04.12.2023 

USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry

Inflation Reduction Act

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

SUMMARY INFORMATION 

Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture – Forest Service (FS) Urban and 

Community Forestry Program. 

Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: Inflation Reduction Act – Urban and Community Forestry 

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-FS-2023-UCF-IRA-01 Grants.gov 

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html 

Assistance Listing: This program is listed in the Assistance Listings on Sam.gov under 10.727 Inflation 

Reduction Act – Urban & Community Forestry 

SAM.gov Registration: All applicants must have an active registration at sam.gov and maintain active 

registration throughout the life of the award. This is the government-wide web-based system that 

supports all contracts, grants, and the electronic payment system. This requirement for registration 

may be found at 2 CFR 25.200. 

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary 

Inflation Reduction Action of 2022, Public Law No: 117-169. Subtitle D, Sec. 23003 (a). State and Private 

Forestry Conservation Programs, (2) Urban and Community Forestry (2022-2031) to provide multiyear, 

programmatic, competitive grants for tree planting and related activities, with a priority for projects that 

benefit underserved populations and areas through the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance 

program established under section 9(c) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act Of 1978 

(16U.S.C.2105(c)) 

Key Dates 

Applicant materials can be found by searching for this funding opportunity through Grants.gov. Search 

for grant Opportunity Number USDA-FS-2023-UCF-IRA 01. Applications will be submitted through the 

UCF Online Grant Portal All application materials must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on 

June 1, 2023. 

For inquiries specific to the content of the NOFO requirements, contact the following shared inbox: 

SM.FS.UCF_IRA@usda.gov). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in 

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this NOFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to 

eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. 

Information on available pre-award webinars and other supporting information for this funding 

opportunity will be posted at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests/ucf 

Contents 

SUMMARY INFORMATION............................................................................................................................

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 2 

Legislative Authority and Funding Priorities 2 

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 3 

Available Funding 3 

Eligibility Information 3 

Pass-Through Funding (Sub-Awards) 7 

APPLICATION, SUBMISSION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 8 

Electronic Application Package 8 

Content and Form of Application Submission 8 

PROPOSAL EVALUATION 11 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 12 

APPLICATION SUBMITTAL 12 

CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 12 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

Legislative Authority and Funding Priorities 

Subtitle D, Sec. 23003 (a). State and Private Forestry Conservation Programs - Appropriations: 

$1,500,000,000 to provide multiyear, programmatic, competitive grants to a State agency, a local 

governmental entity, an agency or governmental entity of the District of Columbia, an agency or 

governmental entity of an insular area (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 

Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)), an Indian Tribe, or a nonprofit organization. 

Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) is a covered program under the Agency’s Justice40 Initiative 

established through Executive Order 13985. To advance the mission of Justice40, proposals that deliver 

40% of the benefits of IRA investments through established partnerships with local organizations 

working to support disadvantaged communities experiencing low tree canopy and environmental justice 

will receive priority consideration. 

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USDA is a partner on the Interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Promoting Equitable 

Access to Nature in Nature-Deprived Communities, which seeks to reduce the number of people 

without access to parks and nature in their communities. The America the Beautiful Initiative supports 

the prioritization of locally led conservation and park projects in communities that disproportionately 

lack access to nature and its benefits. 

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 

Available Funding 

A. Estimated Funding 

The USDA Forest Service may provide up to $1 Billion for Urban and Community Forestry 

investments through this opportunity (based on availability of funding, the quality of applications 

received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations). 

B. Performance Period 

All funding agreements will be for a period of 5 years. All activities and expenses must be 

completed within 5 years of award. Funding agreements will not be extended beyond 5years. 

Note: Recipients will be expected to implement and demonstrate measurable progress within 12 

months of award. 

C. Amount of Awards 

The USDA Forest Service welcomes proposals spanning a broad range of costs from eligible entities 

working at a community, regional and national scale. The minimum Federal funding amount for 

projects is $100,000. The maximum Federal funding limit is $50,000,000. 

D. Additional Funding 

FS may at its discretion, increase the total level of funding available in this funding round or in any 

category in this funding round from any available source provided the awards meet the 

requirements of the statute which made the funding available to the agency. 

Eligibility Information 

Projects must conform to laws and authorities in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (Section 9. [16 

U.S.C. 2105] Urban and Community Forestry Assistance. 

Costs must conform to 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 

Requirements for Federal Awards. 

A. Who Can Apply 

Entities eligible to apply for funding under this NOFO include: 

• State government entity 

• Local government entity 

• Agency or governmental entity of the District of Columbia 

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• Agency or governmental entity of an insular area (as defined in section 1404 of the 

National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 

3103) 

• Federally Recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations/villages, and Tribal 

organizations as defined in 25 USC 5304 (l) and operating within the United States, 

or its territories 

• Non-profit organizations 

• Public and State-controlled institutions of high er education 

• Community Based Organization 

Applicants that include contributing partners must clearly describe the relationship between the 

applicant and the “partner(s).” Partner organizations from disadvantaged communities must be 

full partners in the project. A letter of commitment is required to be submitted by each 

contributing partner. 

B. Eligible Lands 

Eligible applicants may apply for funding for a project to be conducted on non-Federal lands such as: 

• State and local government, 

• Homeowner associations, 

• Private lands, and 

• Tribal/Alaska native corporation (includes Trust lands). 

Lands owned or administered by the federal government are not eligible for this funding 

opportunity except for lands held in trust for Native American Tribes and individuals (hereinafter 

Trust lands). 

C. Eligible Uses of Funding 

1. Examples of eligible activities include projects that: 

a. Foster individuals, groups, and organizations in the communities served to become 

engaged participants in urban forest planning, planting, and management, especially 

those in disadvantaged communities that do not have adequate resources to install or 

maintain green infrastructure or are underrepresented. 

b. Protect, enhance, and expand equitable urban tree canopy cover to maximize 

community access to human health, social, ecological, and economic benefits 

particularly in disadvantaged and nature-deprived communities experiencing low tree 

canopy cover, extreme heat and frequent flooding. Improve and increase access to 

parks and nature in communities. 

c. Encourage long-term urban forest planning, assessment, and management. 

d. Encourage proactive and systematic maintenance and monitoring of urban trees and 

forested natural areas to improve forest health; assess risk to forests from pests, 

disease, and adverse climate impacts; and formulate adaptive management strategies 

to improve forest resilience. 

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e. Advance the use of tree and forest inventories, monitoring, and assessment tools in 

priority areas, including monitoring and measurement of extreme heat. 

f. Improve preparation for severe storms and the recovery of damaged or deteriorated 

landscapes to more healthy and resilient conditions. 

g. Protect, enhance and increase access to watersheds in urban and developing areas with 

a focus on conserving and managing forest patches, and green stormwater 

infrastructure. 

h. Provide paid training experiences for urban forestry crews to establish and maintain 

urban forests into the future. Support youth employment opportunities, including 

workforce development and training for the creation and maintenance of green jobs 

and economic opportunities for planning, planting, and sustainably maintaining trees 

and forests, including training and retaining urban arborists, and producing and using 

urban forest products. 

i. Develop paid on-the-job training opportunities, including pre-apprenticeships and 

apprenticeships, to expand workforce development pathways for green careers in urban 

and community forestry. 

j. Address exotic invasive pest species that adversely impact urban forests. 

k. Work across jurisdictional boundaries, leveraging ideas and resources to increase 

capacity to provide equitable access to benefits across the larger landscape and at a 

greater geographic scale. 

l. Aid in planning, goal setting, and skill sharing with other professions such as urban 

planners, engineers, educators, recreational and public health officials. 

2. Examples of project activities that are NOT eligible for funding under Urban and Community 

Forestry Authorities include: 

a. Research: Basic research as defined in 2CFR 422.1, “Systematic study directed toward 

fuller knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of 

observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind.”

Note: Technical transfer, education, and outreach activities associated with applying 

research can be included in the application.). 

b. Construction and capital improvements. Examples of construction include facilities, 

infrastructure, roads, new buildings, culverts, and boardwalks. 

c. Land acquisition (conservation easement and fee simple) projects. 

d. Cost-share, reimbursement, and other types of payment provided directly to private 

landowners. However, Urban and Community Forestry funding (and match) may be 

used to perform work on private lands; for example, an eligible entity could pay for 

trees to be planted on private lands with permission of the landowner. 

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e. Small business start-up funding. 

f. Equipment purchases are rarely approved and will be reviewed prior to grant award. 

Equipment rental should be considered as an alternative. Equipment is defined as an 

article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more than 

one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. 

3. Match Waiver 

Any Non-Federal cost-share requirement otherwise applicable to projects carried out under this 

section may be waived at the discretion of the Secretary. Match may be waived for proposals 

that deliver 100 percent of the funding/program benefits to disadvantaged communities. 

Applications seeking match waiver must clearly describe the scope of work to be performed in 

applicable disadvantaged communities, and identify online vulnerability and environmental 

justice equity data tools referenced to support a disadvantaged community designation, (e.g., 

White House Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), EPA Environmental Justice 

and Screening Mapping Tool (EJScreen), EPA EnviroAtlas Interactive Map, Opportunity Zones), 

or other government sponsored vulnerability tools which inform metrics applicable to the scope 

of work. Multiple tools may be used. All work must be tracked at the level that designates 

disadvantaged communities. Applicants receiving match waiver approval that pass-through 

funding (sub-award) for work in disadvantaged communities must pass the match waiver to subawardees performing the work. 

While the pace of federal expenditures and cost sharing/matching may vary throughout the 

award period, the agency will actively monitor expenditure rates and cost sharing/matching 

levels as it receives payment requests to ensure the total cost sharing/matching requirement is 

met by the award period of performance end date. Additional details about cost sharing or 

matching funds/contributions are located at 2 CFR 200.306. 

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirements 

All federal grant funds are to be matched at least equally (dollar for dollar) with non-federal 

match which may include allowable and allocable in-kind contributions (i.e., personnel salary, 

fringe, and indirect costs; services, materials, supplies, equipment donations; and volunteer 

assistance), and private and public (non- federal) monetary contributions. 

Cash match is from the applicant’s budget, such as personnel salary, fringe benefits, travel,

equipment, and supplies, or cash provided by another party. The source of the cash match 

cannot be derived from another Federal award or grant. 

In-kind match is a non-cash contribution of value. A non-Federal entity’s in-kind match must 

meet the following criteria: 

• Verifiable from the non-Federal entity's records 

• Not included as contributions for any other Federal award. 

• Necessary and reasonable for accomplishment of project or program objectives. 

• Allowable under subpart E of 2 CFR 200. 

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• Not paid by the Federal Government under another Federal award, except where 

the Federal statute authorizing a program specifically provides that Federal funds 

made available for such program can be applied to matching or cost sharing 

requirements of other Federal programs. 

• Provided for in the approved budget when required by the Federal awarding 

agency; and 

• Conform to other provisions of 2 CFR 200, as applicable. 

Matching funds must be derived entirely from non-Federal sources (unless expressly authorized 

in law by the other federal program. 

Pass-Through Funding (Sub-Awards) 

In response to stakeholder feedback and to alleviate the administrative burden on small, capacitystrained applicants, to expedite funding to communities in greatest need, and to increase opportunities 

to award high volumes of grants in condensed timeframes, applications from eligible entities with 

demonstrated ability to competitively pass-through (subaward) funding to community-based 

organizations and other partners serving disadvantaged communities are encouraged. A minimum of 

80% of all funding to a pass-through entity must be competitively sub-awarded to community-based 

organizations, or other partners serving disadvantaged communities. Funding to Pass-Through 

Entities will be executed through a grant or cooperative agreement with substantial Forest Service 

involvement, at the discretion of the Forest Service. 

For this funding opportunity, a “Community Based Organization” is defined as a public or nonprofit 

organization that supports and/or represents a community and/or certain populations within a 

community through engagement, education, and other related services provided to individual 

community residents and community stakeholders. A “community” can be characterized by a 

particular geographic area and/or by the relationships among members with similar interests and can be 

characterized as part of a broader national or regional community where organizations can be focused 

on the needs of urban, rural and/or tribal areas, and other similar groups. 

Responsibilities of each pass-through entity include the following: 

1. Design an equal opportunity competitive project application submission and evaluation process 

that alleviates burden, including but not limited to technical and administrative burden, on 

small, capacity-constrained applicants. 

2. Develop outreach efforts and plans to reach all underserved or disadvantaged communities, 

especially urban communities, tribal governments and indigenous communities, youth, and 

public minority land grant institutions, for awareness of the availability of sub-award funding. 

3. Develop a sub-award process that ensures efficient and effective fund dispersal and completion 

of sub-awardee projects within a 1year period. All sub-awardee projects must be completed 

within the five-year, Pass-Through Entity grant performance period. 

4. Create an efficient progress and financial tracking and accomplishment reporting system for 

Urban and Community Forestry IRA sub-award projects. 

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5. Manage the application in-take processes, evaluations, subawards process, project risk through 

ongoing monitoring, and project tracking and reporting for communities. Subawards to 

communities will not be individually approved by the Forest Service. Submit timely financial 

and progress reports and success stories (brief project description and outcomes, with project 

photographs and recipient testimonials where feasible) with the USDA Forest Service. 

6. Assist sub-awardee with development and distribution of communications and promotional 

materials that support the funded program of work and reflect IRA as the source of funding. 

APPLICATION, SUBMISSION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 

Electronic Application Package 

Applicant materials can be found on the Urban and Community Forestry UCF Grant Portal or by 

searching for this funding opportunity through Grants.gov. In grants.gov, search for grant Opportunity 

Number USDA-FS-2023-UCF-IRA-01. Applications are to be submitted through the UCF Online Grant 

Portal . All application materials must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 1, 2023. 

For technical issues while viewing Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 

or support@grants.gov. Forest Service staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. 

USDA Forest Service will provide two (2) Application Assistance Webinars in late April to assist with 

specific questions and inquiries. If you would like to receive a direct invitation for these sessions, 

please send an email to the Urban & Community Forestry Program Inbox: 

SM.FS.UCF_IRA@USDA.GOV 

Content and Form of Application Submission 

The Forest Service may choose not to consider applications that fail to comply with the required 

content, format, and page limits, or those that are incomplete. 

To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain the following 

documents: 

A. Project Narrative 

Each page must be numbered and have one-inch margins. The text of the project narrative must be 

single spaced and typed in a standard typeface (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri) with no 

smaller than 12-point font. The project narrative must not exceed 7 pages. This page limit applies to 

the project narrative only. Other application materials, such as budget details/narratives, maps, and 

letters of commitment from contributing partners are not counted in this 7-page limit. 

Project Narratives must include all the following information: 

1. Project Title: Provide a uniquely descriptive title for this project. Use this full title consistently on 

all submission communications and supplemental documents, including letters of support, until 

an official application number is assigned by the Forest Service. 

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2. Project Applicant: Provide the name of the organization applying for Federal funding. 

3. Contact Information: Provide the name, title, address, phone number, and email address for the 

person leading the project or program. 

4. Project Summary: In less than 100 words, provide a summary of the project that includes the 

scope, location, key partners, and expected accomplishments. 

5. Project Scope Alignment: Describe the issues this project is seeking to address and how the 

project will contribute to the goals in this funding opportunity, including congressional, 

Justice40, State Forest Action Plans, and Ten-Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan 

(2016-2026) priorities. 

6. Implementation Strategy/Methodology/Timeline: Provide a detailed explanation of the 

proposed approach, methodology, operations strategies, project schedule/timeline with 

goals/milestones, expected accomplishments or measurable outcomes, and project 

assessment/evaluation methods. 

7. Capability and Capacity: Describe how each contributing organization is suited for (mission) and 

qualified to deliver the project. Provide the names, titles, and organization affiliation and 

specific roles of key personnel for the project. Include qualifications and experience of key 

personnel to implement, monitor, and assess/report project outcome. 

8. Project Partners: Provide the names of partner organizations, describe their involvement and 

contributions to the project, and qualifications of the organization and personnel as they relate 

to their roles in project implementation. 

9. Communications Plan: Share your plans for communication on the project, including plans for 1) 

signage acknowledging the source of funding at project locations 2) inclusion of funding 

information in press and promotional materials. 

10. Evidence of Disadvantaged Community Status for projects requesting Match Waiver (if 

applicable): Clearly describe the scope of work to be performed in disadvantaged communities, 

and identify online vulnerability and environmental justice equity data and/or tools referenced 

to support a disadvantaged community designation, (e.g., White House Council on 

Environmental Quality Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), EPA Environmental 

Justice and Screening Mapping Tool (EJScreen), EPA EnviroAtlas Interactive Map, Opportunity 

Zones, or other vulnerability data/tools applicable to the scope of work). Multiple tools may be 

used. All work must be tracked at the level that designates disadvantaged communities. 

Primary applicants receiving cost-match waiver approval that pass-through funding (sub-award) 

for work in disadvantaged communities must pass through the cost match waiver to subawardees performing the work. 

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B. Budget Narrative 

In a separate document titled “Budget Narrative,” explain and justify all requested budget

items/costs. List in detail how the totals on the budget were determined and demonstrate a clear 

connection between costs and the proposed project activities. 

For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time to be 

directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles 

requires the agency’s approval and estimate its cost. 

The pages included as the budget narrative do not count toward the page limit. Cost 

sharing/matching must be committed at the time of application submission. The budget narrative 

must show the amounts and sources of match or cost share (including both cash and in-kind 

contributions. 

C. Budget 

A budget should be submitted as an attachment and does not count toward the 7-page narrative 

limit (see sample budget template and instructions). Categories include the following: 

• Personnel (salary costs) 

• Fringe benefits 

• Travel 

• Equipment (cost of purchase, not rental. NOTE: The definition of equipment is 

tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit 

acquisition cost of at least $5000. Equipment purchase is heavily discouraged. 

Consider equipment rental instead.) 

• Supplies (tangible personal property other than equipment--includes tree purchase 

not completed under a contract for service) 

• Contractual (e.g., contract for service, equipment rental) 

• Other (sub-grants only) 

• Indirect costs (NICRA, de minimus, or none—see below) 

De minimis rate: Any Non-Federal entity (except State and local governments that receive 

more than $35 million per year in Federal funding) that does not have a current negotiated 

(including provisional) indirect rate (NICRA) may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 

percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. No 

documentation is required to justify the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate. As 

described in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct 

costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this 

methodology once elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time 

as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-Federal entity may 

apply to do at any time. 

Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe 

benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each 

subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). 

MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, 

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tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of 

each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to 

avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the 

cognizant agency for indirect costs. 

Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) may be used, if established. 

PROPOSAL EVALUATION 

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following Evaluation Criteria (100 points): 

1. Alignment with Priorities (0-30 points) 

Scope of work addresses Justice40, Congressional, State Forest Action Plan and Ten-Year 

National Urban and Community Forestry Plan priorities. 

• Increase equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, 

environmental and economic (workforce) benefits in disadvantaged 

communities. 

• Broaden community engagement in local urban forest planning. 

• Improve resilience to climate change, pests, storm/extreme heat events through 

best management and maintenance practices. 

2. Technical Merit (0-20 points) 

• Strategy and methodology are logical and appropriate to attain stated results. 

• Methodology demonstrates high likelihood of success and long-term outcomes. 

• If applicable, methodology for identifying disadvantaged communities is appropriate 

to meet priorities. 

3. Capability and Capacity (0-20 points) 

• Organization(s) (including partners) have ability to carry out the proposed work 

within the grant period and meet federal grant requirements. 

• Key personnel (including partners/contractors) have the training opportunities, 

skills, expertise, and relationships required to complete the work and achieve stated 

results; hired personnel include union labor, living wage paying jobs. 

4. Measurable Results/Outcomes (0-20 points) 

• Conditions are significantly improved for communities (people or places) as prioritized in 

Justice40, Congressional, State Forest Action Plan and Ten-Year National Urban and 

Community Forestry Plan. 

• Increased equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, 

environmental and economic (workforce) benefits in disadvantaged communities. 

• Broadened community engagement in local urban forest planning. 

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• Improved resilience to climate change, pests, storm/extreme heat events through 

best management and maintenance practices. 

• Recipients will be expected to implement and demonstrate measurable progress 

within 12 months of award. 

5. Budget and Cost-Effectiveness (0-10 points) 

• Budget and budget narrative adequately describes proposed costs. 

• Administrative costs are reasonable compared to other expenditures. 

• Costs are in proportion to project input needs and results/outcomes. 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 

Semi-annual financial and progress reports are required for IRA grants: Financial and Progress reports 

will be submitted for the periods ending June 30 and December 31. Reports are due 30 days from the 

period end. Timely submittal of financial and progress reports for each grant as indicated in your award 

agreement will be required. Payments will be withheld until missing reports are received and approved. 

Progress reports should highlight direct quantitative and qualitative investment activities and outcomes 

and include stories and photographs that illustrate these. 

APPLICATION SUBMITTAL 

Applications are to be submitted through the UCF Online Grant Portal. The on-line application workflow 

process is self-explanatory with help links to guide you through the application process. Applicant 

materials can be found on the grant application portal under the forms template and resources section, 

or by searching grant opportunity number USDA-FS-2023-UCF-IRA-01 in Grants.gov. 

All applications must be completed and submitted by June 1, 2023, 11:59 PM Eastern. Once submitted, 

the applicant will receive an email notice confirming their application was successfully submitted. 

CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 

For inquiries specific to the content of the NOFO requirements, contact the following shared inbox: 

SM.FS.UCF_IRA@usda.gov. Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in 

this NOFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to 

eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. 

USDA Forest Service will provide two (2) Application Assistance Webinars in late April to assist with 

specific questions and inquiries. If you would like to receive a direct invitation for these sessions, 

please send an email to the Urban & Community Forestry Program Inbox: 

SM.FS.UCF_IRA@USDA.GOV 

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