WETLAND RESTORATION ASSISTANCE

Posted by USDA-NRCS-Iowa State Office

Description

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Iowa is requesting applications to provide implementation of restoration activities on eligible Wetlands Reserve Program. The objective of WRP is to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners in planning, designing and implementing wetland and associated upland restoration plans that maximize wildlife habitat in wetland systems, as well as provide water quality improvements, reduced soil erosion, reduced impacts of flooding and provide wildlife habitat opportunities for threatened and endangered species. Applicants will be responsible for assisting NRCS and landowners by providing technical assistance necessary to implement WRP restoration plans, while at the same time improving and protecting wetland habitat for environmental benefits. Performance may include any part or all operations necessary to inspection, and construction management activities for various wetland restorations, enhancement and creation practices; and other related conservation practices that meet NRCS standards and specifications. Applications are being requested from eligible government or non-government organizations, tribes, or individuals for competitive consideration of cooperative agreements with a base year and up to four, one-year amendment periods. PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND ADDRESSES: Proposals must be received in the Iowa NRCS State Office by 4:30 p.m., Central Time (CT) on August 23, 2010. The address for hand-delivered applications or applications using express mail or overnight courier service is: Contracting Section, ATTN: Matthew Harvey, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, 210 Walnut Street, Room 693, Des Moines, IA 50309.Overview The purpose of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program to conserve, protect and enhance the nation’s wetland ecosystems. The program promotes the restoration, enhancement, protection, maintenance and management of wetland systems and adjacent land that would contribute significantly to wetland functions and values. Through WRP, landowners may receive assistance to install or implement structural or vegetative wetland and associated upland restoration practices on eligible land. WRP provides that the Secretary may request the services of, and enter into cooperative agreements with, non-Federal entities to assist in providing specialized assistance necessary implement conservation plans under these programs. The agency is directing resources toward the restoration of degraded wetlands across the state of Iowa. The NRCS is requesting proposals from qualified individuals and organizations that share a common interest in the conservation and restoration of wetland resources throughout Iowa. Project Description The objective of WRP is to provide specialized assistance to landowners in planning, designing and implementing wetland and associated upland restoration plans that maximize wildlife habitat in wetland systems, as well as provide water quality improvements, reduced soil erosion, reduced impacts of flooding and provide wildlife habitat opportunities for threatened and endangered species. Applicants will be responsible for assisting NRCS by providing specialized assistance to implement WRP restoration plans, while at the same time improving and protecting wetland habitat for environmental benefits. Performance may include any part or all operations necessary to perform vegetative and hydrology restoration in a timely and effective manner. Work shall include any or all of the following activities: construction management activities for various wetland restorations, enhancement and creation practices; and other related conservation practices that meet NRCS standards and specifications. All services shall be provided in accordance with applicable NRCS policy and criteria that can be found at the following websites: NRCS Field Office Technical Guide: http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov; and NRCS National Engineering Handbook, and National Engineering Manual References: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ENG. Awardees will perform all work in close coordination with the NRCS WRP Specialist, District Conservationist (DC) and Area Engineer. Once a project is received the awardee will complete the assigned project during the performance period identified in project documentation. The awardee will be responsible for locating the practice site on the ground for layout work, as well as staking the job for construction work. These activities will occur in accordance with the NRCS provided design.Wetland Engineering Practices and Biological Practices are described in the NRCS electronic FOTG, which can be found at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/efotg/. The awardee will be expected to provide the inspection and quality control of each WRP restoration project, provide to the NRCS a monthly status report of work in progress and any other documentation as may be required by the NRCS standards and specifications. There are currently 20 sites ready for restoration, with 39 known sites throughout Iowa expected to be ready for restoration within six months after agreement award.Iowa NRCS anticipates the following involvement, which is deemed substantial, in carrying out projects funded with Federal assistance provided through a cooperative agreement under this announcement. Iowa NRCS will: • Conduct an initial briefing at the Iowa NRCS State Office in Des Moines, Iowa prior to award to discuss the goals and objectives of the project and items of work to be conducted under the agreement. • Designate a liaison to participate in the planning and management of the cooperative agreement and coordinate activities between the awardee and Iowa NRCS. • Identify and prioritize work assignments at the Iowa State Office level with consultation from the Iowa NRCS Field Offices. • Provide for state level coordination/guidance of the technical specialists. • Provide quality assurance for services provided under the agreement. • Provide access to NRCS technology and technical tools to the maximum extent possible. • Provide necessary permits, cultural resource checks, and NEPA compliance.• Approve all new technologies and innovative practices, including applicable standards and specifications, prior to the applicant applying those practices.• For each "work area" the Iowa Assistant State Conservationist for Programs (ASTC), State and Area Specialist(s), FO and the District Conservationist(s) (DC) will participate in the planning and managing of the cooperative agreement(s) and coordinate activities between the awardee and the NRCS. • The NRCS will identify and prioritize work assignments for completing activities required to implement the wetland and associated upland restoration components of each conservation plan. • The NRCS will monitor the awardee’s progress and suspend work if agreement or conservation plan requirements or NRCS standards and specifications are not met. Funding Availability All awards are subject to the availability of sufficient funds being appropriated by Congress and apportioned by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to support the addition and full cost of service to implement specialized assistance activities. Cooperative agreements will be awarded competitively to applicants. Cooperative agreements have been determined to be the appropriate funding instrument because of the substantial involvement of NRCS in providing technical oversight and coordination of planning, designing and implementing wetland and associated upland restoration activities. It is anticipated that approximately $3.0 million will be available for planning, designing and implementing wetland and associated upland restoration plans in Fiscal Year 2010. The amount of funds available for this program is not fixed and may vary considerably from the current funding level. Amendments to the agreement(s) may be developed upon availability of funding in future years (approximately a 5-year period). The work will be performed statewide. The cooperative agreements will include one base-year and four, one-year amendment periods. Work under this cooperative agreement is subject to satisfactory negotiation of individual or grouped conservation plans of operation projects. There will be no minimum or maximum price on any conservation plans of operation projects. The maximum amount of reimbursement for each cooperative agreement period (base-year and each option-year) shall be determined by available funds. There shall be no guaranteed minimum. Multiple cooperative agreements may be awarded as a result of this announcement. Projects will be ordered on an as-needed basis beginning from the date of the award of the agreement for a period not to exceed five years. Application and Submission Information (Proposal amendments and notifications, if required, will be managed through grants.gov and associated e-mails registered on that system.)1. How to Obtain Application Materials All OMB standard forms necessary for proposal submission are posted on the following site: http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp 2. Proposal Content and FormatProposals must contain the information set forth below in order to receive consideration for an award. Applicants should not assume prior knowledge on the part of NRCS or others as to the relative merits of the work described in the application. Proposal must include all required forms and narrative sections described below; incomplete applications will not be considered. Do not include letters of support, endorsement or recommendations for award. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to complete the grant or cooperative agreement application. Applicants should refer to http://www.grants.gov to apply. Further, the applicant must respond to the Evaluation Factors for Award, provide cost data to support a proposed budget and

Eligibility

01;02;04;07;11;12;13;21;22;23

Parent Grant Program

Agency Contact

Key Dates