Opportunity Information: Apply for F14AS00332
Apply for F14AS00332
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the agriculture disaster prevention and relief education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Fire Plan Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance 2014" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.674 National Fire Plan Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 23, 2014 and posted on Jul 23, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 5, 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 $500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Individuals Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments City or township governments County governments.
- State and local governments and communities at risk and communities of interest, as published in the Federal Register/Vol. 66, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2001 or updated Governor signed list, Indian Tribes, private land owners, public and private education institutions, and nonprofit organizations that manage lands. All selectees must be identified as significant to FWS, deemed by a cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, and/or part of an interagency agreement that serves as a clearinghouse for HFR assistance monies.For mitigation activities (projects that are removing hazardous fuels) all work funded must be identified from a signed CWPP or CWPP/E or will be signed by expected funding date.
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Opportunity Summary:
National Fire Plan Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance 2014 (Funding Opportunity Number F14AS00332) was a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) competitive discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement to reduce hazardous wildland fuels in Alaska communities located on or next to National Wildlife Refuges. The core purpose was to create defensible space and lower the risk that wildfires starting on National Wildlife Refuge System lands (or other nearby public lands) could spread into adjacent villages, neighborhoods, private homes, and local businesses. The work was intended to be very close to where people live and work, focusing on practical, on-the-ground treatments that directly reduce fire intensity and improve a community's ability to withstand and respond to wildfire.
The opportunity centered on fuels reduction in the wildland urban interface (WUI), meaning the zone where structures and infrastructure meet or mix with flammable vegetation. Projects were expected to build shaded fuel breaks and fire breaks around communities and private lands. A shaded fuel break generally means thinning and pruning vegetation to reduce ladder fuels and canopy continuity while keeping some tree cover, whereas a fire break is typically a more open strip designed to slow or stop fire spread and provide safer access for firefighters. By prioritizing these treatments in immediate community surroundings, the program aimed to reduce flame lengths, slow rates of spread, and provide safer, more effective locations for suppression operations.
Eligibility was limited to Alaska villages and communities considered at risk from wildland fire and specifically identified as such by both the State of Alaska and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the added requirement that the community be adjacent to or within the boundaries of a National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to communities themselves, a broad set of applicant types could apply, including state and local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, private landowners, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), public and private educational institutions, small businesses, and individuals. However, applicants needed to align with FWS partnership and coordination expectations; selectees had to be recognized as significant to FWS and operate under a cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, and/or an interagency agreement framework that functions as a clearinghouse for hazard fuel reduction assistance funds. For projects involving actual hazardous fuels removal, the funded work had to be identified in a signed Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) or equivalent CWPP/E, or be expected to be signed by the anticipated funding date, reinforcing that treatments should follow a locally developed, collaborative risk reduction plan.
The grant laid out four main goals. First, it aimed to physically reduce wildfire exposure by constructing shaded fuel breaks and fire breaks in and around communities and private lands, limiting the potential for fires from federal and other lands to move into populated areas. Second, it emphasized a collaborative community approach, including homeowner and community education using Firewise concepts. This part of the program was meant to ensure residents understand practical steps like reducing flammable vegetation near structures, addressing ignition vulnerabilities, and participating in planning and implementation rather than treating fuels reduction as solely a government responsibility. Third, the program explicitly targeted local economic benefits by using local labor and encouraging small business development, anticipating employment of roughly 10 to 20 local personnel across project locations. Fourth, it required that treatment activities be carried out in ways that protect firefighter and public safety, which in practice implies attention to safe operational methods, appropriate training and supervision, and creating treatment areas that improve tactical safety during future wildfire response.
From a funding standpoint, FWS expected to make one award with an estimated total of $500,000. Individual award sizes were projected to fall between $100,000 (floor) and $500,000 (ceiling). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowered the barrier for participation by small or remote communities that may have limited ability to provide cash or in-kind match. The opportunity was posted July 23, 2014, and closed September 5, 2014, with an archive date of November 1, 2014. The CFDA number associated with the program was 15.674 (National Fire Plan Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance), and the activity categories spanned agriculture, disaster prevention and relief, education, environment, and natural resources, reflecting the program's mix of risk mitigation, community planning, and land management.
For applicants seeking more information at the time, FWS provided an additional information link through its Alaska funding opportunity page and a direct agency contact: Katherine Smiley (907-786-3412, KatherineSmiley@fws.gov), including assistance for those who had trouble accessing the announcement electronically.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the National Fire Plan Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance 2014 opportunity?
National Fire Plan Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Community Fire Assistance 2014 (Funding Opportunity Number F14AS00332) was a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) competitive discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement. It focused on reducing hazardous wildland fuels in Alaska communities located on or next to National Wildlife Refuges.
What was the main purpose of this grant program?
The core purpose was to create defensible space and reduce the chance that wildfires starting on National Wildlife Refuge System lands (or other nearby public lands) could spread into adjacent villages, neighborhoods, private homes, and local businesses. The work emphasized practical, on-the-ground treatments close to where people live and work.
What does “wildland urban interface (WUI)†mean in this program?
In this opportunity, the WUI is the zone where structures and infrastructure meet or mix with flammable vegetation. Projects were expected to focus fuels reduction in this area to lower fire intensity and improve a community’s ability to withstand and respond to wildfire.
What types of activities were expected to be funded?
Projects were expected to reduce hazardous fuels by building shaded fuel breaks and fire breaks around communities and private lands, particularly in the immediate surroundings of homes, businesses, and community infrastructure.
What is a shaded fuel break as described in the opportunity?
A shaded fuel break generally means thinning and pruning vegetation to reduce ladder fuels and canopy continuity while keeping some tree cover.
What is a fire break as described in the opportunity?
A fire break is typically a more open strip designed to slow or stop fire spread and provide safer access for firefighters.
How were these treatments expected to reduce wildfire risk?
By prioritizing treatments near where people live and work, the program aimed to reduce flame lengths, slow rates of spread, and create safer and more effective locations for suppression operations.
Who was eligible based on location?
Eligibility was limited to Alaska villages and communities considered at risk from wildland fire and specifically identified as such by both the State of Alaska and FWS, with the added requirement that the community be adjacent to or within the boundaries of a National Wildlife Refuge.
What types of organizations or individuals could apply?
A broad set of applicant types could apply, including state and local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, private landowners, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), public and private educational institutions, small businesses, and individuals.
Was this grant offered as a standard grant or another award type?
It was offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the selected recipient was expected to work in coordination with FWS under a cooperative framework.
Were there partnership or coordination requirements?
Yes. Selectees had to be recognized as significant to FWS and operate under a cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, and/or an interagency agreement framework that functions as a clearinghouse for hazard fuel reduction assistance funds.
Was a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) required?
For projects involving actual hazardous fuels removal, the funded work had to be identified in a signed Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) or equivalent CWPP/E, or be expected to be signed by the anticipated funding date.
What were the main program goals?
The opportunity described four main goals: (1) reduce wildfire exposure through shaded fuel breaks and fire breaks in and around communities and private lands; (2) promote a collaborative community approach, including homeowner and community education using Firewise concepts; (3) generate local economic benefits by using local labor and encouraging small business development; and (4) protect firefighter and public safety through how treatments are planned and implemented.
What did the program mean by using Firewise concepts?
The program emphasized homeowner and community education so residents understand practical steps such as reducing flammable vegetation near structures, addressing ignition vulnerabilities, and participating in planning and implementation.
Did the opportunity emphasize local hiring or economic benefits?
Yes. It explicitly targeted local economic benefits by using local labor and encouraging small business development, anticipating employment of roughly 10 to 20 local personnel across project locations.
Were there safety expectations for funded work?
Yes. Treatment activities were required to be carried out in ways that protect firefighter and public safety, implying attention to safe operational methods, appropriate training and supervision, and creating treatment areas that improve tactical safety during future wildfire response.
How much funding was available?
FWS expected to make one award with an estimated total of $500,000.
What was the expected range for individual award amounts?
Individual award sizes were projected to fall between $100,000 (floor) and $500,000 (ceiling).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on July 23, 2014, and closed on September 5, 2014.
When was the archive date?
The archive date listed for the opportunity was November 1, 2014.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number was F14AS00332.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number was 15.674 (National Fire Plan Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance).
What kinds of activity categories did this opportunity cover?
The activity categories spanned agriculture, disaster prevention and relief, education, environment, and natural resources.
Where could applicants find more information at the time?
FWS provided an additional information link through its Alaska funding opportunity page and offered help for those who had trouble accessing the announcement electronically.
Who was the agency contact listed for questions?
The agency contact was Katherine Smiley at 907-786-3412 or KatherineSmiley@fws.gov.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F14AS00332) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
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| Alaska Wildland Urban Interface Hazardous Fuels Reduction Projects Apply for F15AS00424 Funding Number: F15AS00424 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Agriculture Disaster Prevention and Relief Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $385,000 |
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