Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS WERC 2015
Apply for USDA FS WERC 2015
- The Forest Service in the agriculture energy natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wood Innovations" 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 Oct 31, 2014 and posted on Oct 27, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 23, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 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 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants are for profit entities State, local, and Tribal governments school districts communities not for profit organizations or special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or ports).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Wood Innovations grant opportunity (CFDA 10.674, Wood Utilization Assistance) was a U.S. Forest Service funding program designed to rapidly grow wood energy and wood products markets across the United States in ways that directly support forest management needs on National Forest System lands as well as other public and private forestlands. The program was framed around a practical set of outcomes: reducing hazardous fuels and improving forest health (especially in areas with high wildfire risk), lowering the costs of forest management across all land types, and strengthening the economic and environmental health of local communities that rely on forest resources.
Funding under this opportunity was offered through two main grant categories. Grant Category 1 focused on expanding wood energy markets, with the goal of stimulating or scaling energy uses that depend on forest residues or forest byproducts generated from any land ownership type. Within this category, the Forest Service indicated a preference for proposals that use low value wood coming from National Forest System and other forestlands facing elevated wildfire risk, aligning energy market development with hazardous fuels reduction and restoration work. The wood energy category included three subcategories: Statewide Wood Energy Teams (capacity building and coordination at a statewide level), Wood Energy Projects (site or project specific development and implementation), and Wood Energy Markets (market development and expansion efforts tied to wood based energy).
Grant Category 2 targeted expansion of wood products markets that are not energy related, emphasizing projects that create new demand or scale existing demand for wood products. The program signaled particular interest in efforts that support commercial building markets or that advance existing or innovative wood product solutions. Importantly, wood energy proposals were explicitly excluded from this category and were expected to apply under Category 1 instead, which helped keep the two tracks distinct: one for energy and one for non energy wood products and construction oriented applications.
In terms of funding structure, the opportunity was discretionary and could be awarded as a grant or cooperative agreement. The Forest Service anticipated making about 25 awards from an estimated total funding pool of $5,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $10,000 (floor) up to $250,000 (ceiling). Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute a portion of project resources from non federal sources, whether through cash, in kind support, or other eligible match (as defined in the full RFP).
Eligibility was broad and included for profit entities, state, local, and Tribal governments, school districts, communities, nonprofit organizations, and special purpose districts such as public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or ports. This wide eligibility reflects the program's emphasis on turning forest management byproducts into community scale economic activity, often requiring partnerships among public agencies, industry, and local institutions.
The Request for Proposals was issued on October 27, 2014, and proposals were due by 11:59 p.m. on January 23, 2015. Applications had to be submitted electronically to the Regional Biomass Coordinator for the applicant's Forest Service region. Each application package was required as two separate PDF files: one containing the proposal narrative and appendices (Application Parts 1 and 2) and a second containing the financial forms (Application Part 3). Searchable PDFs were preferred. Additional program details and the full 2015 RFP were hosted on the Forest Service Wood Education and Resource Center website at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/. For accessibility support, the notice also referenced the Federal Relay Service (TDD) at 800-877-8339, and it provided a program contact at the Wood Education and Resource Center (Edward Cesa, Deputy Director, phone 304-285-1530).
Wood Innovations Grant (CFDA 10.674) FAQs
1. What is the Wood Innovations grant opportunity (CFDA 10.674)?
Wood Innovations (CFDA 10.674, Wood Utilization Assistance) was a U.S. Forest Service funding program intended to rapidly grow wood energy and wood products markets across the United States. The program was designed to support forest management needs on National Forest System lands as well as other public and private forestlands by increasing productive uses of wood, especially materials generated through restoration and hazardous fuels reduction work.
2. What outcomes was the program designed to achieve?
The opportunity was framed around practical outcomes, including reducing hazardous fuels and improving forest health (particularly in high wildfire risk areas), lowering forest management costs across land ownership types, and strengthening the economic and environmental health of local communities that rely on forest resources.
3. Who administered the funding?
The program was administered by the U.S. Forest Service, with additional information hosted on the Forest Service Wood Education and Resource Center website.
4. What were the two main grant categories?
Funding was offered through two main categories:
- Grant Category 1: Expanding wood energy markets.
- Grant Category 2: Expanding non-energy wood products markets.
5. What types of projects fit under Grant Category 1 (wood energy markets)?
Category 1 focused on stimulating or scaling energy uses that depend on forest residues or forest byproducts generated from any land ownership type. The Forest Service indicated a preference for proposals that use low value wood coming from National Forest System lands and other forestlands facing elevated wildfire risk, linking energy market development to hazardous fuels reduction and restoration.
6. What were the subcategories under the wood energy category?
Category 1 included three subcategories:
- Statewide Wood Energy Teams: Capacity building and coordination at the statewide level.
- Wood Energy Projects: Site- or project-specific development and implementation.
- Wood Energy Markets: Market development and expansion related to wood-based energy.
7. What types of projects fit under Grant Category 2 (non-energy wood products markets)?
Category 2 targeted projects that create new demand or scale existing demand for wood products that are not energy-related. The program highlighted interest in efforts supporting commercial building markets and in work that advances existing or innovative wood product solutions.
8. Are wood energy proposals allowed under Category 2?
No. Wood energy proposals were explicitly excluded from Category 2 and were expected to apply under Category 1. The program kept the tracks distinct: one for energy and one for non-energy wood products and construction-oriented applications.
9. What was the total estimated funding amount and number of awards?
The Forest Service anticipated making about 25 awards from an estimated total funding pool of $5,000,000.
10. What was the expected size of individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to range from $10,000 (minimum) up to $250,000 (maximum).
11. Was this funding competitive or automatic?
The opportunity was discretionary, meaning awards were made through a competitive selection process rather than automatic formula distribution.
12. What funding instruments could be used?
Awards could be issued as either a grant or a cooperative agreement.
13. Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing (matching) was required. Applicants needed to contribute a portion of project resources from non-federal sources, which could include cash, in-kind contributions, or other eligible match as defined in the full RFP.
14. Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included for-profit entities; state, local, and Tribal governments; school districts; communities; nonprofit organizations; and special purpose districts such as public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or ports.
15. When was the RFP issued and when were proposals due?
The Request for Proposals was issued on October 27, 2014. Proposals were due by 11:59 p.m. on January 23, 2015.
16. How did applicants submit their proposals?
Applications had to be submitted electronically to the Regional Biomass Coordinator for the applicant's Forest Service region.
17. What file format and packaging were required for the application?
Each application package was required to be submitted as two separate PDF files:
- PDF #1: Proposal narrative and appendices (Application Parts 1 and 2).
- PDF #2: Financial forms (Application Part 3).
Searchable PDFs were preferred.
18. Where could applicants find the full RFP and additional program details?
Additional details and the full 2015 RFP were hosted on the Forest Service Wood Education and Resource Center website at: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/
19. Who was listed as a program contact?
The notice provided a contact at the Wood Education and Resource Center: Edward Cesa, Deputy Director, phone 304-285-1530.
20. What accessibility support was referenced in the notice?
The notice referenced the Federal Relay Service (TDD) at 800-877-8339 for accessibility support.
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