BLM (MT/Daks) State-wide Forest and Woodlands Resource Management Program

Description

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Forest and Woodland Resource Management Program manages and conserves 58 million acres of forest and woodland in 12 western States and Alaska. These forests provide a range of ecosystem services including wildlife habitat, hydrologic function, and sustainable harvest of forest products valued by society. A primary activity of the program is to maintain and improve the resilience of forest and woodland ecosystems to wildfire, insects, disease, and drought through density management using timber sales, Stewardship agreements, and Good Neighbor (GNA) agreements. In 2019, the BLM is implementing directives related to forest and woodland management in:Executive Order 13855 Promoting Active Management of America¿s Forests, Rangelands, and Other Federal Lands to Improve Conditions and Reduce Wildfire Risk. Secretarial Order 3372 Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land through Active Management. Specifically the BLM is seeking to conduct forest treatments that are in the interest of the BLM and adjacent landowners. In addition, the BLM is seeking to conduct salvage harvest treatments from large-scale mortality events such as wildfire and insect epidemics. Funded projects under this program will focus on high priority work such as activities that promote forest and woodland health, sustainable forest management, fire resiliency, infrastructure development for future sustainable timber harvest, biomass utilization, habitat conservation needs, and insect, disease and fire recovery. These activities could include, but are not limited to: planting trees, pre-commercial and commercial thinning, salvage/sanitation forest treatments, control of competing vegetation, fuels reduction, riparian or upland restoration, project development and layout, planning analysis and document preparation needed in concert with or to carry out Land Use Planning Decisions, Endangered Species Act or cultural clearances, data collection, and monitoring. BLM, Montana/Dakotas has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist and collaborate with a recipient to access additional resources outside of the federal government, which not only furthers the BLM mission, but also reduces BLM staffing costs and improves our responsiveness to the public. In addition, efficiencies can be gained by working across jurisdictional boundaries, which results in greater public and private participation. Lastly, the BLM can maximize cost savings to the public by utilizing a recipient that shares similar goals of local economic improvement, environmental enhancement, and resource sustainability. Priority activities under this announcement include preparation, administration, or implementation of timber sales, Stewardship and GNA projects that treat forest and woodlands (see following description):1. One or more components of preparing a project (site surveys, environmental clearances, NEPA preparation, project layout, timber cruising, timber marking, boundary designation, and other tasks related to preparing a project).2. One or more components of administering a project (subcontracting, advertising for bid, awarding a subcontract or timber sale, subcontract performance inspection, and other tasks related to administering a project.3. Implementation of Authorized Restoration Services (see GNA IM for definition), acres/units of Land Management Goals (see Stewardship Manual for definition), or acres/ units of forest or woodland treatments conducted. Program Strategic Goals: 1.Implement science-based forest restoration projects to improve forest health and resilience to wildfires, insects, disease, and drought.2. Sustainable harvest of forests and woodlands to produce a continuous supply of wood products and biomass for renewable energy.3. Salvage dead and dying timber to reduce fuels, in balance with the need for wildlife habitat, watershed function, and soil stability, while supporting local economies.4. Provide the public with commercial and personal use opportunities to harvest products such as firewood, Christmas trees, boughs, greenery, medicinal plants, fence posts, and pinyon pine nuts from forests and woodlands. 5. Expedite the NEPA processes to accelerate the removal of beetle-killed timber to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and minimize risks to the recreating public. 6. Implement projects collaboratively with a Governor or any other appropriate executive official of an affect State, county official, or Indian Tribe under the Good Neighbor authority by implementing project under authorized restoration services, which means similar and complementary forest and watershed restoration services carried out on Federal land, non-Federal land, and land owned by an Indian tribe. The following program statutory authority, BLM Manuals, etc. are applicable to this program:1. BLM Manual MS-5920-1 Stewardship End Result Contracting ProjectsEligibility for Stewardship is based on whether the project meets one of the seven Land Management Goals as outline in this manual. Stewardship authorizes a number of actions not available under other authorities such as trading goods for services. All special authorizations are listed in this manual.2. BLM Instructional Memorandum IM-2018-008 GNA is only eligible for state governments, counties, and Indian Tribes. GNA projects have special requirements and restrictions as outlined in this IM. GNA authorizes sole source partnerships with eligible entities and allows them to subcontract using their procedures.3. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321)All proposed projects submitted under this funding opportunity must state a benefit to the public

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