Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS WERC 2014 SWET
Apply for USDA FS WERC 2014 SWET
- The Forest Service in the community development energy natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2014 Statewide Wood Energy Teams Request for Proposals" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.674 Wood Utilization Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 22, 2014 and posted on Apr 22, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 20, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments City or township governments County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Public utilities district
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2014 Statewide Wood Energy Teams (SWET) Request for Proposals is a competitive funding opportunity from the U.S. Forest Service, issued under a broader USDA multiagency Wood to Energy Initiative. The basic goal is to help states organize and sustain collaborative, statewide public-private teams that can move wood energy projects from interest to installation, with an emphasis on commercially viable systems. These projects are meant to use woody biomass sourced from National Forest System lands as well as other ownerships, tying forest management and restoration byproducts to practical local energy uses.
The program is designed around the idea that wood energy markets grow fastest when multiple projects develop together as a cluster, either within a defined geography (for example, a region of a state) or within a sector (such as schools, hospitals, campuses, municipal buildings, or industrial users). Instead of funding construction directly, SWET funding is aimed at the development work that helps real projects get built: building partnerships, reducing information gaps, and completing early technical and financial work that can lead to bankable projects and procurement-ready plans.
Funded activities can include workshops and hands-on assistance that give decision-makers clear technical, financial, and environmental information about wood energy systems, fuel supply considerations, and project economics. Awards may also support preliminary engineering assessments that help evaluate site feasibility, system sizing, fuel specifications, and concept-level design. Community outreach is another eligible area, recognizing that public understanding and local stakeholder support can be essential for siting and permitting, long-term fuel supply confidence, and successful adoption by public institutions and private facilities.
Eligibility is limited in an important way: only proposals for work planned in states that have National Forest System lands will be considered. Within that constraint, a range of applicant types may apply, including state governments, city/township and county governments, federally recognized Tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The opportunity also notes eligibility related to public utilities districts, indicating that utility-type public entities may be appropriate applicants or partners depending on the specific circumstances described in the full program guidance. The emphasis on statewide teams means proposals are expected to reflect collaboration across agencies and stakeholders rather than a single organization acting alone.
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which typically implies a more involved partnership relationship with the Forest Service than a standard grant. The program anticipates making about 15 awards. Total estimated program funding is $1.7 million, with individual awards ranging from a $50,000 floor to a $250,000 ceiling. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants should expect to bring non-federal contributions and document them as part of the project budget and commitment package.
Administratively, the funding opportunity is identified as USDA FS WERC 2014 SWET and is associated with CFDA 10.674 (Wood Utilization Assistance). The posting date was April 22, 2014, and the application deadline was May 20, 2014. Applications had to be submitted electronically to the Regional Biomass Coordinator for the applicant’s Forest Service region by 11:59 p.m. on the due date. Each submission needed to be split into two separate files (PDF or Word): one file containing the proposal narrative and appendices (SWET Application Part 1, Part 2, and appendices), and a second file containing the financial forms (SWET Application Part 3). Applicants were directed to the Forest Service Wood Energy website (http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/) for the full announcement and program materials. For access issues or questions, the contact listed was Edward Cesa, Deputy Director at WERC, reachable by phone at 304-285-1530.
Overall, SWET is best understood as a capacity-building and project development accelerator for wood energy: it funds the coordinated planning, analysis, outreach, and early engineering work that helps multiple wood energy installations become feasible and financeable, while supporting the use of woody biomass tied to National Forest System landscapes and broader forest management objectives.
FAQs: 2014 Statewide Wood Energy Teams (SWET) Request for Proposals
What is the 2014 Statewide Wood Energy Teams (SWET) funding opportunity?
The 2014 Statewide Wood Energy Teams (SWET) Request for Proposals is a competitive funding opportunity from the U.S. Forest Service. It was issued under the broader USDA multiagency Wood to Energy Initiative.
What is the main goal of SWET?
The goal is to help states organize and sustain collaborative, statewide public-private teams that can move wood energy projects from early interest to installation, with an emphasis on commercially viable systems.
What types of energy projects does SWET focus on?
SWET focuses on wood energy projects that use woody biomass. The program is intended to connect forest management and restoration byproducts to practical local energy uses.
Where is the woody biomass expected to come from?
Projects are meant to use woody biomass sourced from National Forest System lands as well as other ownerships.
Does SWET fund construction or equipment purchases for wood energy systems?
No. SWET is not described as a direct construction funding program. Instead, it supports project development work that helps real projects get built, such as partnership-building, reducing information gaps, and completing early technical and financial work leading to bankable projects and procurement-ready plans.
What is meant by the program emphasizing "clusters" of projects?
The program is designed around the idea that wood energy markets grow fastest when multiple projects develop together as a cluster. Clusters can be based on geography (for example, a region of a state) or based on a sector (such as schools, hospitals, campuses, municipal buildings, or industrial users).
What kinds of activities are eligible for SWET funding?
Funded activities can include workshops and hands-on assistance for decision-makers, preliminary engineering assessments, and community outreach intended to support siting, permitting, fuel supply confidence, and adoption.
What topics can workshops and hands-on assistance cover?
Workshops and assistance can provide technical, financial, and environmental information about wood energy systems, including fuel supply considerations and project economics.
What kinds of engineering work can SWET support?
SWET may support preliminary engineering assessments to evaluate site feasibility, system sizing, fuel specifications, and concept-level design.
Why is community outreach included as an eligible activity?
The opportunity recognizes that public understanding and local stakeholder support can be essential for siting and permitting, long-term fuel supply confidence, and successful adoption by public institutions and private facilities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Within the stated constraints, eligible applicants include state governments, city/township and county governments, federally recognized Tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Are proposals allowed from any state?
No. Only proposals for work planned in states that have National Forest System lands will be considered.
Do proposals need to represent a statewide team rather than a single organization?
Yes. The emphasis on statewide teams means proposals are expected to reflect collaboration across agencies and stakeholders rather than a single organization acting alone.
Are public utility-type entities addressed in the eligibility description?
Yes. The opportunity notes eligibility related to public utilities districts, indicating that utility-type public entities may be appropriate applicants or partners depending on the specific circumstances described in the full program guidance.
What type of award instrument is used?
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which typically implies a more involved partnership relationship with the Forest Service than a standard grant.
How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making about 15 awards.
How much total funding was estimated for the program?
The total estimated program funding was $1.7 million.
What is the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 (minimum) to $250,000 (maximum).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required. Applicants were expected to bring non-federal contributions and document them as part of the project budget and commitment package.
What is the funding opportunity identifier?
The opportunity is identified as USDA FS WERC 2014 SWET.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 10.674 (Wood Utilization Assistance).
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the deadline?
The posting date was April 22, 2014, and the application deadline was May 20, 2014.
How were applications submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically to the Regional Biomass Coordinator for the applicant's Forest Service region by 11:59 p.m. on the due date.
What file format was required for the application submission?
Each submission needed to be split into two separate files in PDF or Word format.
How should the application files be organized?
The submission had to include: (1) one file containing the proposal narrative and appendices (SWET Application Part 1, Part 2, and appendices), and (2) a second file containing the financial forms (SWET Application Part 3).
Where could applicants find the full announcement and program materials?
Applicants were directed to the Forest Service Wood Energy website at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/ for the full announcement and program materials.
Who was the listed contact for access issues or questions?
The contact listed was Edward Cesa, Deputy Director at WERC. The phone number provided was 304-285-1530.
How should SWET be understood in practical terms?
SWET is best understood as a capacity-building and project development accelerator for wood energy. It funds coordinated planning, analysis, outreach, and early engineering work that helps multiple wood energy installations become feasible and financeable, while supporting the use of woody biomass tied to National Forest System landscapes and broader forest management objectives.
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