UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Recovery Act –Idaho BLM Statewide Noxious and Invasive Weed TreatmentsAuthority:
Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA) Public Law 94-579. The Secretary of the Interior may enter into contract and cooperative agreements for the management, protection, and development of public lands.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
BLM-ID-RFA-10-0001
CFDA No. 15.231
CFDA Title: Fish, Wildlife and Plant Resource Management
ISSUE DATE: November 20, 2009
CLOSING DATE:December 7, 2009
Contact Information:
Name: Chris Shaver, Grants Management Officer (GMO)
Phone: (208) 373-3817
Fax: (208) 373-3915
SECTION I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Project Background Information: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the county commissioners of Idaho that have public lands have a long standing cooperative relationship in the management of noxious weeds. This cooperative working relationship has resulted in operations efficiencies in resource management when working with an intermingledownership land base.
Noxious weeds are undesirable and potentially harmful plants that spread at an alarming rate throughout the western United States. Most noxious weeds are “exotic” plants that are native to Europe and Asia. Noxious weeds are a severe threat to biological systems in the West.
B. Project Objective:To control, reduce the spread of, and prevent the further invasion and establishment of noxious weeds using the most economical, appropriate and effective weed control methods available.
Noxious and invasive weeds destroy wildlife habitat, reduce livestock forage, degrade riparian zones and watersheds, displace native plant and animal species, including threatened, endangered, and sensitive species, create fire hazards in forests and rangelands, poison and injure livestock and humans, degrade recreation sites from use, and increase soil erosion. Noxious and invasive weeds adversely affect overall recreational opportunities on public land such as hunting, fishing,camping, and hiking and also impact adjacent private lands, both rural and urban, causing widespread economic losses to the agricultural industry as well as to other resources within the private sector. The control of noxious and invasive weeds is a vital part of providing a healthy ecosystem for private, state, and public lands by reducing the negative impacts and economic losses caused by them.
The projects will assist in jumpstarting the economy, and create or save jobs within Idaho communities.
C. Statement of Joint Objectives/Project Management Plan: Provide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies and establish priorities for work to be accomplished in the County or in specific Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs).
Provide Annual Operating Plan which entails:
a) Implementation of control methods (chemical, physical, mechanical, biological etc.);
b) Inventory and mapping
c) Early detection and prevention activities
d) Education and outreach efforts
Chemical applicators must meet state requirements for each chemical applied and submit all the required application records to the County. Any chemicals proposed to be applied on public lands must be on the BLM approved listing. Pesticide Application Records will be provided to BLM.
Multiple counties and Cooperative Weed Management Areas are involved. Recipient will coordinate disbursement of funds and collecting reports from each. Specific list (table) follows:
Region/ Area/ District / Unit/ Facility / Project Title / Type of work and acres to be accomplishedTwin Falls District / District-wide / Cassia County Weed Agreement: Goose Creek Leafy Spurge. Chemical and biological control. / Inventory: 20,000
Treatment: 5,000; Monitoring: 7,000
Cassia County Weed Agreement: North Cottrell Scotch Thistle. Chemical control. / Inventory: 10,000
Treatment: 900; Monitoring: 2,000
Tri-County Weed Agreement (SIBC): Muldoon and Slaughter House Canyon Dalmation Toadflax. Biological control. / Inventory: 4,000
Treatment: 900 Monitoring: 2,000
Tri-County Weed Agreement: Black Butte Scoth Thistle. Chemical control. / Inventory: 2,000
Treatment: 100 Monitoring: 200
Tri-County Weed Agreement: Big Wood Scotch Thistle. Chemical control. / Inventory: 1,000
Treatment: 100 Monitoring: 200
Blaine County Weed Agreement: Hulen Meadows Spotted and Diffuse Knapweed and Dalmation Toadflax. Chemical and biological control. / Inventory: 1,000
Treatment: 500 Monitoring: 500
Camas County Weed Agreement: Camas and Chimney Creek Leafy Spurge. Chemical and biological control. / Inventory: 4,000
Treatment: 100 Monitoring: 200
Camas County Weed Agreement (SIBC): Camas County knapweed. Biological control. / Inventory: 10,000
Treatment: 5,000 Monitoring: 5,000
Twin Falls County Weed Agreement: Blue Gulch Russian and Diffuse Knapweed, Rush Skeletonweed, and Tamarix (Salt Cedar). Chemical and biological control. / Inventory: 2,000
Treatment: 500 Monitoring: 500
Minidoka County Weed Agreement: Lake Walcott Scotch Thistle. Chemical control. / Inventory: 1,000
Treatment: 200 Monitoring: 200
Idaho Falls District (County) / District-wide / Custer County Early Detection, Rapid Response (EDRR) / Inventory: 5,000; Treatment: 100
Lemhi County: Carmen-Badger Leafy Spurge Treatment / Inventory: 25,000;
Treatment: 800
(Bannock) County Weed Agreement: Dyers Woad areas adjacent to Black Rock Canyon, Portneuf Area, Area N. of Lava / Treatment: 216
(Bingham) County Weed Agreement: Blackfoot River, especially within the proposed enclosures and campgrounds / Treatment: 50
(Caribou) County Weed Agreement: Along Blackfoot River, Bear River, Soda Hills / Treatment: 50
(Franklin) County Weed Agreement: Bear River, Oneida Narrows area / Treatment: 50
(Power) County Weed Agreement: Big Canyon, Houtz Canyon, Sand Hollow, Stewart Canyon, Big Onion allotments, / Treatment: 50
(Bonneville) Biological and chemical control, target noxious weeds including leafy spurge, Canada thistle, and knapweed / Treatment: 80
(Butte) Biological and chemical control, target noxious weeds including leafy spurge, Canada thistle, knapweed, and rush skeleton / Treatment: 160
(Clark) biological and chemical control, target noxious weeds including leafy spurge, Canada thistle, and knapweed / Treatment: 160
(Fremont) biological control targeting noxious weeds including leafy spurge / Treatment: 600
(Fremont) chemical control, targeting noxious weeds including leafy spurge, Canada thistle, yellow toadflax, and knapweed / Treatment: 160
(Jefferson) biological and chemical control, targeting noxious weeds including leafy spurge, Canada thistle, and knapweed / Treatment: 160
(Madison) biological and chemical control, targeting noxious weeds including leafy spurge, Canada thistle, and knapweed / Treatment: 80
(Salmon) Salmon River Corridor FMU_FG05 Cheatgrass / Treatment: 500
(Challis) East Fork FMU_FC64 Cheatgrass/Weeds / Treatment: 200
(Challis) Challis FMU_FC65_Cheatgrass/Weeds / Treatment: 525
(Challis) Donkey Hills_FMUFC66 Cheatgrass/Weeds / Treatment: 50
Coeur d’Alene District / Cottonwood FO / Inventory, Eradication and Control of Invasive Weeds in the Joseph Plains, Salmon River, and Tri-State Weed Management Areas. Implement biocontrols, complete inventory, and continue to assist the county in eradication of weeds on BLM lands. / Inventory: 1,500; Treatment: 400; Monitoring: 400
Ada County Weed Agreement: Inventory and chemical treatment of rush skeletonweed, scotch thistle and knapweeds in the Birds of Prey NCA and 8th Street (Boise foothills). / Inventory: 20,000
Treatment: 50
Boise District / District-wide / Adams County: Yellow starthistle inventory and treatment in Goodrich area, leafy spurge, rush skeletonweed and scotch thistle inventory and treatment throughout BLM lands in Adams county. / Inventory: 15,000 Treatment: 100
Boise County: Noxious weed inventory and chemical treatment by ATV and horseback. BLM managed lands SE of Banks and Quartzburg . / Inventory: 15,000 Treatment: 60
Canyon County: Rush skeletonweed inventory and chemical treatment on BLM lands in northern Canyon county. / Inventory: 15,000 Treatment: 250
Elmore County Weed Agreement: Rush skeletonweed inventory and chemical treatment throughout BLM lands in Elmore county. / Inventory: 25,000 Treatment: 800
Gem County: Rush skeltonweed and scotch thistle chemical treatment. Sucker Creek, Hog Creek and Little Willow Creek areas. / Inventory: 10,000 Treatment: 250
Owyhee County: Jordan Valley Leafy Spurge, Whitetop, scotch thistle, Murphy whitetop, Castle Creek whitetop. Inventory and chemical treatment. / Inventory: 50,000 Treatment: 1,000
Payette County: Ashlock Gulch diffuse knapweed and mediterranean sage, Big Willow Creek yellowstarthistle. Inventory and chemical treatment. / Inventory: 25,000 Treatment: 800
Washington County: Weiser River Corridor leafy spurge. Chemical and biological control. Rush skeletonweed, leafy spurge, and scotch thistle treatment throughout BLM managed lands. Aquire GPS units for inventory. / Inventory: 25,000 Treatment: 600
GPS units: 2 each
BLM will be substantially involved:
The BLM will work with the recipient to produce Annual Operating Plans which set forth strategies and establishes priorities for work to be accomplished in the County or Weed Management Area.
The BLM will work closely with the recipient to provide the necessary quality control and field inspections.
The BLM will provide oversight and expertise associated with application of herbicides and biological control on public lands.
The BLM will provide guidance and direction for public land treatments and inventory.
The BLM will provide maps, GPS locations, and the approved herbicide formulations list.
D. Period of Project: Two Years
SECTION II. AWARD INFORMATION
A. Expected Number of Awardsand length of Award(s): One Award – Two years
B. Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,316,500.00
C. Award Ceiling: $1,316,500.00
D. Assistance Instrument: Cooperative Agreement
*NOTE: The funding made available through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is one-time funding only.
SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
A. Eligible Applicants: Unrestricted
B. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program has no matching requirements; however, applicants offering matching funds either for the project’s internal expenses or for funding the program are more likely to be funded. If cost sharing is from a third party, include a copy of the letter committing funds or interest in the project if possible.
SECTION IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
A. Address to Request Application Package: This announcement contains all information and electronic addresses necessary to submitan application through Grants.gov.
B. Content and Form of Application: The application package shall consist of all the required Standard Forms shown below, Attachment A, Certification For Federal Assistance, AND a project narrative and budget narrative that must include the following information:
1. Required Standard Forms:
SF Forms to Submit / SF Form InformationApplication / Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance
Budget Information / Form SF-424A, Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs
or SF-424C – Construction Programs
Assurances / Form SF-424B, Assurances - Non-Construction Programs
or SF-424D– Construction Programs
2. Detailed Narrative Proposal
1. Indirect Charges. Most States, Universities and larger nonprofit organizations have a negotiatedindirect cost rate agreement with the Federal Government. This agreement provides the rates approved for use on cooperative agreements, grants, contracts and other agreements with the Federal Government. A copy of a current rate agreement must be submitted with proposed projects. Smaller organizations may not have an agreement with the Federal Government. In these cases, the indirect costs requests must be accompanied by a determination from an independent auditing firm. This determination will include the indirect cost rate, the calculations of the indirect cost rate including the base and indirect costs pools and the associated dollar figures for both. Proposals that fail to document their indirect costs will be disallowed.
2. Proposal Submission Format (Attachment B) can be used as an example in submitting a proposal. The proposal technical text must be no longer than 10 pages, no smaller thanfont size 11, and have 1-inch margins. The 10-page limit includes all text, figures, references,and vitae. (The Budget, Attachment C, is notincluded in the 10-page limit.) The text should include the following:
a. Introduction, Purpose, Objectives, and Relevance – (a) Describe why the project is needed by the applicant; (b) Describe the applicant’s objectives; (c) Describe how the applicant’s objectives support their mission and how this project will provide a public benefit; (d) Describe how this project will preserve and create jobs to promote economic recovery, provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health, and will invest in transportation, environmental protections and other infrastructure that will provide long-termeconomic benefits.
b. Technical Approach - Describe how the applicant proposes to conduct and achieve the project in accordance with the Statement of Joint Objectives in Section I.D. The project design must contain enough detail to show the development of the project and the relationship between the partners, tasks, milestones, and objectives.
The work plan must be clear, suitable, and feasible with respect to the following; (a) Describe the techniques, procedures, and methodologies to be used; (b) Describe data collection, analysis, and means of relationship interpretation; (c) Describe expected results or outcomes; and (d) Describe the procedures for evaluating project efficacy, including fixed performance indices with probabilities for obtaining them. Explain how the applicant will meet the completion schedule identified in Section I.D.
c. Qualifications, Experience, and Past Performance - Describe who will carry out the project activities. List all project personnel, including consultants. Describe their responsibilities and the amount of time each will dedicate to the project. Briefly describe how their experience and qualifications are appropriate to successfully achieve the stated objectives.
3 Budget (Attachment C). Include a description of the cost share (cash vs. in kind). The budget should contain the following:
a. Salaries and Wages. Include all employees and their titles working on the project.
b. Fringe Benefits. Proposed rates/amounts. If rates are audit approved, include a copy of the audit agreement and/or the name of the audit agency. If more than one rate is used, list each rate and the wage or salary base.
c. Consultant/Contracting Fees. Include payments for professional and technical consultants and contractors participating in the project.
d. Travel and Per Diem. For each trip, indicate the number of persons traveling, the total days they will be in travel status, and the total subsistence and transportation costs for that trip. Per diem rates shall not exceed maximum Federal rates. To view current Federal per diem rates, visit and follow the links to per diem information.
e. Supplies and Materials. Include consumable supplies and materials to be used in the project, listing each item and quantity individually. Include items of expendable equipment, i.e., equipment costing less than $500 or with an estimated useful life of less than two years. Equipment costing more than that should be listed in the Other Costs category (Category G, below).
f. Services. This should include the cost of duplication and printing, long distance telephone calls, equipment rental, postage, and other services not previously listed.
g. Other Costs. List equipment items in excess of $500 and other items not previously listed. Note that equipment items worth less than $500 or that have a useful life of less than 2 years must be listed in the Supplies and Materials category.
h. Indirect Charges. If indirect costs will be charged to the grant/cooperative agreement, complete the table below with your current approved indirect cost rate and the direct costs it will be applied to. A copy of your most recent indirect cost rate must be attached if indirect costs are requested.
C. Submission Dates and Times:
The electronic submission into Grants.govis due by December 7, 2009@ 11:59 p.m. MountainStandard Time. A proposal received after the closing date and time willnot be considered. If it is determined that a proposal will not be considered due to lateness, the applicant will be notified immediately.
All proposals/applicationsmust be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. All of the required
attached forms can be prepared online. Any form that is not available online may be submitted as attachments at the end of the proposal. If you have not registered in Grants.gov, visit the website
and get started in the registration process. Application preparation time may take several weeks to get certified. Once at the website, choose “Get Started” and work through the first 5 steps. If you have any questions or problems with the registration process, please contact the grants.gov help desk at 1-800-518-4726. In addition, Grants.gov has an “Applicant Users Guide” available at: that will answer most if not all your questions.
D. Submission Instructions and Information:
Applications/proposals must be submitted by the following method only:
1. On-Line Submittal – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is participating in the Grants.gov Initiative that provides the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. BLM requires applicants to submit their applications/proposals electronically through:
YOU MUST REGISTER WITH GRANTS.GOV PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION THROUGH THE GRANTS.GOV WEBSITE. THE REGISTRATION PROCESS MAY TAKE FROM 7 TO 21 DAYS.
2. Electronic Signature. Applications submitted through Grants.gov constitute submission as electronically signed applications. The registration and e-authentication process establishes the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). When you submit the application through Grants.gov, the name of your authorized organization representative on file will be inserted into the signature line of the application. Applicants must register the individual who is able to make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as the AOR.
3. Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Application and/or Proposal
Any application/proposal received after the exact time specified for receipt will not be considered in the original selection process unless the application is received before award is made and it is determined by BLM that the late receipt was due to mishandling by the Government. Any modification of an application is subject to the same conditions stated above.
4. Electronic Application Submission and Receipt Procedures