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Applicant Webinar Register Here:\u00a0https:\/\/register.gotowebinar.com\/register\/2017117163717794061<\/a><\/p>\n Wednesday<\/strong>, December 2, 2020 at 3 PM Eastern Time<\/strong> The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to expand and enhance longleaf pine ecosystem restoration and management across longleaf pine\u2019s historical range, as well as the restoration and enhancement of bottomland hardwood forests within priority focal areas. The Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund is a public-private partnership supported with Federal funding from USDA\u2019s Forest Service (USFS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and private funding from International Paper\u2019s Forestland Stewards Partnership, Southern Company, the Arbor Day Foundation, Altria Group and The Orton Foundation, an affiliate of The Moore Charitable Foundation, founded by Louis Bacon. Approximately $4.3 million in grant funds is expected to be available in 2021.\n<\/p>\n To be eligible for funding, projects must occur within historic range or priority focal areas as depicted on Map 1 as follows:<\/p>\n A more detailed map can be viewed here:\u00a0Interactive Map<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n The Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund is guided primarily by three strategic drivers:<\/p>\n Funding Priorities:<\/strong>\u00a0Priority will be given to projects that effectively implement one or more of the strategies below to improve longleaf pine and bottomland hardwood habitats and populations of associated wildlife species.\u00a0Note:<\/strong>\u00a0NFWF is particularly interested in projects that help improve the understanding and quantification of the\u00a0carbon and water<\/u>\u00a0benefits of longleaf pine and bottomland hardwood restoration, enhancement and management projects. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to program staff prior to submitting a proposal to discuss projects that will address carbon and water benefits.<\/p>\n For Longleaf Pine:<\/strong><\/p>\n Prescribed Burning<\/u><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Other Silvicultural Treatments<\/u><\/p>\n Where prescribed fire is not sufficient or practical for achieving longleaf ecosystem restoration, the following additional treatments will be considered. Applicants should explain how these treatments contribute towards sustainable longleaf ecosystem restoration and maintenance, including how they will enable future prescribed burning as a management practice. Silvicultural treatments on stands where longleaf is not currently the dominant tree species are permitted where such treatments will result in conversion to a longleaf dominated forest1<\/sup>.<\/li>\n For Bottomland Hardwoods:<\/strong><\/li>\n Proposed capacity-building activities must be integrated as part of a larger project addressing one or more of strategies 1-3 above.<\/strong>\u00a0Proposals must detail how LIT capacity investments will lead to specific, measurable, on-the-ground conservation outcomes within the project period.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Requests for conservation easement funding should not exceed 15% of the total proposal request and should be for transaction and due-diligence costs, such as boundary survey, appraisal, environmental report, etc.<\/strong>\u00a0In limited instances, highly leveraged projects will be considered for acquisition costs. Please contact Jon Scott (jonathan.scott@nfwf.org<\/a>) to discuss specific land conservation projects.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n To better gauge progress on individual grants and to ensure greater consistency of project data provided by multiple grants, the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund has a list of metrics in Easygrants for full proposal applicants to choose from for future reporting. We ask that applicants select only the most relevant metrics from this list for their project (all possible program metrics are shown in the table below). If you think an applicable metric has not been provided, please contact Jon Scott (jonathan.scott@nfwf.org<\/a>) to discuss acceptable alternatives.<\/p>\n *Projects that will engage private landowners should select all three outreach\/education\/technical assistance metrics listed above (targeted, reached, changed behavior). Data for all three metrics will enable NFWF to better understand \u00a0landowner response to outreach, education, technical assistance, and diversity efforts.\n<\/p>\n Eligible and Ineligible Entities<\/strong><\/p>\n Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds<\/strong><\/p>\n The Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund anticipates awarding approximately $4.3 million in grants in FY 2021. This program has one annual application cycle and awards approximately 20-25 grants per year. Grant awards are expected to range from $100,000 to $300,000. Projects should begin within six months of the award date and be completed within two to three years from the start date. These grants require non-federal matching contributions valued at 50% of the total project costs (1:1 ratio).<\/p>\n Projects submitted from organizations which identify as one or more of the federal Underserved\/Special Emphasis Categories (described on page 10) unable to provide a 1:1 non-federal match are eligible, but applicants must contact NFWF to discuss potential match adjustment options prior to submitting a proposal.<\/p>\n Work on Public Lands:\u00a0<\/strong>Limited work on federal lands is eligible, but funding is limited for some portions of the historical longleaf pine range. Work performed on state and municipal-owned public land is eligible across all states within the historical longleaf range.\u00a0Projects that focus on public lands are strongly encouraged to include work on private lands as part of the broader project scope.\u00a0<\/strong>Please contact Jon Scott (jonathan.scott@nfwf.org<\/a>) to discuss potential work on public lands prior to submitting an application.\n<\/p>\n All proposals will be screened for relevance, accuracy, completeness and compliance with NFWF and funding source policies. Proposals will then be evaluated based on the extent to which they meet the following criteria.<\/p>\n Program Goals and Priorities\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Project contributes to the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund\u2019s acreage, habitat, and species goals, and has specific, quantifiable performance metrics that will be tracked and measured to evaluate project success. In addition to meeting key habitat needs for longleaf ecosystem indicator species (red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise, Bachman\u2019s sparrow, northern bobwhite), describe any significant benefits to other at-risk, threatened or endangered species. Project addresses one or more of the program priorities outlined in the request for proposals.<\/p>\n Conservation Plan and Context<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Describe how the project addresses the priorities and goals outlined in the Business Plan:\u00a0Longleaf Forests and Rivers<\/a>\u00a0and other existing conservation plans or strategies that benefit the longleaf pine ecosystem and associated species. Projects located within the coastal plain of North and South Carolina or Piney Woods region of Texas and Louisiana and include bottomland hardwood restoration should address how the project advances the bottomland\u00a0hardwood restoration priorities and acreage and species goals outlined in the\u00a0<\/a>Forestland Stewards partnership business plan. Proposals also should highlight how these efforts will expand new or existing restoration and conservation initiatives to maximize large-scale ecosystem function. Proposals submitted on behalf of an LIT\/SGA should describe how the project will support and advance the priorities identified in a completed or developing LIT\/SGA conservation plan.<\/p>\n Matching Contributions<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Matching contributions consist of cash, contributed goods and services, volunteer hours, and\/or property raised and spent for the project during the period of performance2<\/sup>. Larger match ratios and matching fund contributions from a diversity of partners are encouraged and will be more competitive during application review. Applicants are encouraged to describe federal partner contributions as well in the proposal narrative, although those contributions will not count toward the minimum match requirement.<\/p>\n Cost-Effectiveness\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Project includes a cost-effective budget that balances performance risk and efficient use of funds. Cost-effectiveness evaluation may include, but is not limited to, an assessment of either or both direct and indirect costs in the proposed budget. The federal government has determined that a\u00a0de minimis<\/em>\u00a010% indirect rate is an acceptable minimum for organizations without a NICRA, as such NFWF reserves the right to scrutinize\u00a0ALL<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0proposals with indirect rates above 10% for cost-effectiveness.<\/p>\n Technical Merit<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Project is technically sound and feasible, and the proposal sets forth a clear, logical and achievable work plan and timeline. Project engages appropriate technical experts throughout project planning, design and implementation to ensure activities are technically-sound and feasible.<\/p>\n Partnership<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 An appropriate partnership exists to implement the project and the project is supported by a strong local partnership that leverages additional funds and will sustain it after the life of the grant. Identify proposed partners, if known (including potential or contemplated subawards to third party subrecipients of the applicant), the roles they will play in implementing the project, and how this project will build new or enhance existing partnerships.<\/p>\n For SGA and\/or LIT projects, this should include appropriate federal, state, local and private partners. Coordination with the military is strongly encouraged where possible (e.g., work with a local installation to support the military mission and demonstrate an understanding of the installation\u2019s longleaf objectives). (Note: a project partner is any local community, non-profit organization, tribe, and\/or local, state or federal government agency that contributes to the project in a substantial way and is closely involved in completing the project.)<\/p>\n Funding Need<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Project establishes a clear need for the funds being requested, and demonstrates that activities would not move forward absent funding.<\/p>\n Monitoring<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Project includes a plan for monitoring progress during and after the proposed project period to track project success and adaptively address new challenges and opportunities as they arise.<\/p>\n Letters of Support:<\/strong><\/p>\n Long-term Sustainability<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Project will be maintained to ensure benefits are achieved and sustained over time. This should include how future funding will be secured to implement necessary long-term monitoring and maintenance activities.\n<\/p>\n Budget\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Costs are allowable, reasonable and budgeted in accordance with NFWF\u2019s\u00a0Budget Instructions<\/a>\u00a0cost categories. Federally-funded projects must be in compliance with\u00a0OMB Uniform Guidance<\/a>\u00a0as applicable.<\/p>\n Procurement<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 If the applicant chooses to specifically identify proposed contractor(s) for services, an award by NFWF to the applicant does not constitute NFWF\u2019s express written authorization for the applicant to procure such specific services noncompetitively. When procuring goods and services, NFWF recipients must follow documented procurement procedures which reflect applicable laws and regulations.<\/p>\n Publicity and Acknowledgement of Support\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Award recipients will be required to grant NFWF the right and authority to publicize the project and NFWF\u2019s financial support for the grant in press releases, publications and other public communications. Recipients may also be asked by NFWF to provide high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) photographs depicting the project.<\/p>\n Receiving Award Funds<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Award payments are primarily reimbursable. Projects may request funds for reimbursement at any time after completing a signed agreement with NFWF. A request of an advance of funds must be due to an imminent need of expenditure and must detail how the funds will be used and provide justification and a timeline for expected disbursement of these funds.<\/p>\n Compliance Requirements<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Projects selected may be subject to requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act, endangered species acts (state and Federal), and National Historic Preservation Act. Documentation of compliance with these regulations must be approved prior to initiating activities that disturb or alter habitat or other features of the project site(s). Applicants should budget time and resources to obtain the needed approvals. As may be applicable, successful applicants may be required to comply with additional Federal, state or local requirements and obtain all necessary permits and clearances.<\/p>\n Permits<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Successful applicants will be required to provide sufficient documentation that the project expects to receive or has received all necessary permits and clearances to comply with any Federal, state or local requirements. Where projects involve work in the waters of the United States, NFWF strongly encourages applicants to conduct a permit pre-application meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers prior to submitting their proposal. In some cases, if a permit pre-application meeting has not been completed, NFWF may require successful applicants to complete such a meeting prior to grant award.<\/p>\n Federal Funding<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The availability of federal funds estimated in this solicitation is contingent upon the federal appropriations process. Funding decisions will be made based on level of funding and timing of when it is received by NFWF.<\/p>\n Special Instructions: Explanation of How Project Supports DOD Mission Objectives<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 For applicants whose project includes work on, adjacent to, or within close proximity to military bases or installations, applications must demonstrate how proposed projects will support DOD\u2019s mission objectives and complete the DOD questionnaire provided as an upload in Easygrants.<\/p>\n USDA Underserved\/Special Emphasis Categories<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The historically underserved farmer and rancher categories include those with limited resources, beginning farmers\/ranchers, socially disadvantaged (American Indians or Alaska Natives, Asians, Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics) and veterans. More information can be found at\u00a0https:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/wps\/portal\/nrcs\/detail\/national\/people\/outreach\/slbfr\/?cid=nrcsdev11_001040<\/a>.<\/p>\n The special emphasis categories are American Indian\/Alaska Native, Asian American, Black, Disability, Women, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Hispanic, and Veterans. More information can be found at\u00a0https:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/wps\/portal\/nrcs\/main\/national\/people\/employee\/sep\/<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Dates of activities are subject to change. Please check the program page of the NFWF website for the most current dates and information:\u00a0Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nFull Proposal Due Date:\u00a0Thursday, February 4, 2021 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time<\/strong>\n<\/p>\nOVERVIEW<\/h3>\n
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS<\/h3>\n
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PROGRAM PRIORITIES<\/h3>\n
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PROJECT METRICS<\/h3>\n
ELIGIBILITY<\/h3>\n
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FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND MATCH<\/h3>\n
EVALUATION CRITERIA<\/h3>\n
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OTHER<\/h3>\n
TIMELINE<\/h3>\n