Q. What is the definition of public lands? Does it matter who owns the land, such as an NGO/government? And, even if the land is owned privately and is for PUBLIC USE, but the State agency manages the land, can the State Agency and its partners apply for the funding ?
A. The SUFR Grant Program will fund proposals with proposed project activities that will be conducted on PUBLIC LANDS throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, it’s territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands ) and islands.
Public lands, are defined in the U.S. Code Title 43 CHAPTER 35 SUBCHAPTER I § 1702, and as stated in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, whereas specifically, U. S. lands owned by a federal, state, or local government, that are a part of the U.S. public domain subject to sale or disposal under the homestead laws.
PLEASE NOTE: Projects can take place on private lands ONLY WITH clearly documented evidence (e.g.., easement, written agreement, MOU), that details collaboration with local entities/landowners and that demonstrates continued public benefit to the urban forest for years to come. Existing or planned agreements must be attached to the proposal at the time of submission and final versions sent to the respective Regional UCF Program Coordinator for approval in advance of planting. The Regional UCF Coordinator will decide if proposed projects are eligible.
Q. Will States be allowed to submit more than one proposal?
A. Yes, the State Agency and their respective partners will be allowed to submit more than one proposal.
Q. Can more than one project be funded per state?
A. Yes.
Q. The SUFR announcement letter states that multi-state proposals are encouraged. How do funding caps work in a multi-state proposal?
A. $4,000,000 will be available (APPROPRIATIONS PENDING) for Emerald Ash Borer Urban Forest Reforestation Proposals. Awards will range from $100,000 - $500,000.
Q. How do we submit a multi-state proposal?
A. The best way to apply for funding is to have the states collectively submit one proposal with one state acting as the lead/primary applicant. List the state partners as secondary contacts. If you need to list all the other states as partners and other partners, be sure to list the names and contact information on a separate document if there are too many individual/organizations to list in your narrative with the title of the document to be uploaded stating “State Partners”. Upload the State Partners document as a pdf in the “other information” section of the application portal.
As for the budget, each state will need to submit a SEPARATE BUDGET showing their contributions to the budget with each separate line item identified and listed.
PLEASE NOTE that each State CANNOT exceed the funding caps, but the overall project/proposal could be more.
Q. May non-state entities complete/submit applications through the portal?
A. No. All applicants MUST contact their Forest Service Regional Coordinators for guidance and to address any program questions before applying. Only the States and the designated state partners working through their State Forestry Agency are eligible to submit proposals for projects. PLEASE NOTE that State Coordinators at the State Agencies can invite partners to develop proposals. The State Coordinators and/or their state forestry designees (e.g., Volunteer Coordinator) must complete/submit applications through the submission portal, by uploading the required documents. External applications from non-State entities or their designated partners without the State and Regional Coordinators approval WILL NOT be accepted.
Q. Can Tree City USA expenditures be used as match?
A. Tree City USA expenditures can be used as a Match as long as there is NO DUPLICATION in the use of these funds in another grant.
Q. Are “personnel” as listed in the RFP budget line item different from administrative costs? Do you mean indirect costs is the same as administrative cost?
A. The 20% Cap on Administrative Costs is in ADDITION to the proposed personnel who would be actually carrying out the work, such as tree planting, etc.
Q. States have to be the applicants, but they can involve/work with a partner. If selected, do the states have the option of asking us to do a grant as a pass through grant to a 3rd party partner? We commonly do that with our other grants.
A. Yes, pass through to a 3rd party is allowed, as long as accomplishments are reported into state’s CARS database. PLEASE NOTE that the State Agency is the lead applicant/ primary contact for the SUFR Grants Program. As with other grants, the funds will be awarded to the State Agency. The State Agency will distribute the funds, as dictated by the proposed budget, to their partners listed in the project proposal.
Q. If the proposal is successful, would the funding come in on our CPGs? Will this funding be bundled into the consolidated grants (CPGs) to states (like last year), or will awards be entirely separate?
A. Yes, the awarded funds will go directly to the primary state applicant and will be bundled into the CPGs, as in past years, in 2020 and 2021.
Q. What is the project timeframe? When do projects need to be completed?
A. The expected award date is between June and September 2022. Projects must be completed within 3 years of award, and measurable progress must be reported by March 31, 2023.
Q. Will an extension be granted if the proposed work is not completed?
A. ONLY Under extenuating circumstances will an extension be granted, but all projects must be completed within 5 years of award.
Q. Can Federal funds be spent on supporting activities like community outreach/engagement, planting plans, and after care?
A. Yes, Federal funds can be used to support activities as long as they are outlined in the project narrative. These activities will demonstrate that there is an investment and a commitment to in sustaining long-term projects. PLEASE NOTE that Federal grant funds cannot be used to pay for food and beverages.
Q. Can federal funds be spent on ash tree removal AND treatment?
A. ONLY if those activities are described in the narrative as a part of the project, can be counted as match.
Q. Would funding be allowed for removal of standing dead ash trees? This is a significant problem in under resourced communities and if it is allowed, can I request some assistance for them in this regard?
A. According to the Congressional Directive:
Proposals should address the critical need to restore and improve urban forests due to catastrophic losses from Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), while building resiliency through reforestation/tree planting in urban communities where trees are critical to human health and reduce the impact of climate change.
FY 2022 Congressional Directive-- Emerald Ash Borer Urban Reforestation--HR 117: “The Committee continues to urge the Forest Service to address the catastrophic losses to urban forests from Emerald Ash Borer while building resiliency through tree diversity and the protection of existing trees. Nearly eighty-one percent of Americans live in urban areas where trees are critical to human health and to reducing the impact of climate change. Of the funds provided within Urban and Community Forestry, the Committee directs an additional $4,000,000 (APPROPRIATIONS PENDING) to be used for reforestation, to include tree planting, in urban communities most severely impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer. This funding is to be in addition to funds otherwise provided to regions for the Urban and Community Forestry program. The Committee encourages the Forest Service to prioritize regional, multi-organizational collaborations in urban communities most severely impacted by invasive species like the Emerald Ash Borer.”
Projects that involve planting trees should account for tree establishment and maintenance over the span of the project in their proposals and budgets as appropriate. To the extent possible, planting activities should align and advance urban forest master plans or other cohesive urban forestry-related plans.
Please check with your State Agency and the State’s Action Plan concerning the removal of trees. Whatever prescriptive action that will be taken, please note that the reforestation efforts are to include tree planting, that must take place in areas that are severely affected by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).
Q. What are some examples of MOUs, agreements, etc. that demonstrate continued public benefit for years to come?
A. The MOU and/or agreement may include language that states the purpose and the intent to care for trees and not remove them unless deemed unhealthy, a public nuisance, or an unacceptable risk to the public.
Q. When will the announcement of grantees be made?
A. Please See the 2022 Grant Calendar.
Q. Who do I contact for assistance with submission portal errors?
A. Please see the Technical Assistance Section.
Q. I am having difficulty accessing the web portal. Are there any alternatives to submitting a proposal?
A. If you are having difficulty accessing the web portal. Please be sure to update your internet browsers. If you are using Microsoft Edge or Explore, we suggest that you switch to using Google Chrome when accessing the web portal. Also, be sure to update your Adobe software, as many of the attached documents you will need, have been uploaded into the web portal as pdfs. PLEASE NOTE that all information that you will attach to your proposal will need to be converted into a pdf file.
For all other technical questions concerning the web portal, please contact our web portal IT Specialist Darryl Outlaw at contact@sref.info .
ALL grant proposals must be submitted electronically to the SUFR Web Portal for consideration by APRIL 15, 2022, 5:00 PM EDT.
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