… · Web viewThe Veterans Conservation Corps Project Grantee will work with TCN to track the number of jobs created, ... (page 8) in a Word Document or PDF

Request for Proposals & ApplicationThis RFP and application can be found on The Corps Network’s website:http://www.corpsnetwork.org/gulf-coast-restoration-corps

AWARD INFORMATIONApplication deadline: September 16, 2016

Anticipated award date: October 17, 2016Anticipated project duration: 6 – 8 months, with an Organization

Start Date in November 2016Award Amount: $100,000.00

CONTENTSI. Introduction

II. Background III. Veterans Fire Crew and Conservation Corps Project IV. Scope of Work

a. Host Organization b. Project Duration c. Crew Size d. Potential Activity Focus e. Tracking

V. Who Should Apply VI. Submission Instructions

VII. Application Guidelines a. Required Forms and Documents b. Required Budget Template

VIII. Application Cover Sheet IX. Map – NFWF Approved Area of Operations

http://www.corpsnetwork.org/gulf-coast-restoration-corps

NFWF/TNC Gulf Coast Conservation GrantTOPIC: GULF CONSERVATION CORPS RESTORATION PROGRAM – VETERANS CORPS

I. Introduction The Corps Network is requesting proposals from qualified non-profit organizations to recruit and train Veterans in forest conservation and stewardship through the creation of a Veterans Conservation Corps with a base of operations located in the Five Gulf Coast States (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas).

II. Background The Gulf Conservation Corps Restoration Program (GCCRP), a partnership between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and The Corps Network (TCN), works to improve long-term habitat health for native plants and animals, build organizational strength to continue to use Conservation Corps as a significant strategy for Gulf restoration, and train young adults (ages 18-26) and Veterans (up to age 35) to participate in the expanding Gulf restoration economy.

The GCCRP is working to create the infrastructure to train and mobilize crews to address problems in the Gulf ecosystem and local economies. In doing so, conservation progress will be made on the ground to improve the long-term health of habitat for native plants and animals, build the organizational strength to continue to use Conservation Corps as a significant strategy for Gulf restoration, while training crews to participate in the expanding the new Gulf restoration economy.

The GCCRP is currently helping to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region through the development of two new local Conservation Corps (FL and MS) and a Pilot Veterans Conservation Corps. The Conservation Corps crews focus on restoring habitat and water quality, replenishing and protecting living coastal and marine resources, enhancing community resiliency, and restoring and revitalizing the Gulf economy. The initiative is a locally-based, regional effort to develop the capacity of Service and Conservation Corps in the Five Gulf States Region’s communities. This project will build the long-term organizational capacity of local non-profit organizations in the region to support Conservation Corps programs.

III. Veterans Fire Crew and Conservation Corps ProjectThe Veterans Fire Crew will provide a “proof of concept” demonstration for key partners in the Five Gulf States Region. Funding will support the start-up and operation of a mobile Conservation/Fire Corps Crew. The crew will focus on Longleaf Pine restoration and controlled burn projects that could range in scope across the Five Gulf States Region. A high priority outcome of the “proof of concept” project will be to develop a program model for advanced restoration crew work suited to match Veteran’s skills, experiences and career pathways in the Gulf’s new restoration economy.

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IV. Scope of Work

a. Host OrganizationThe host organization will be qualified to recruit, train and operate as a home base for the Veteran’s Conservation Corps somewhere in the Five Gulf States Region.

b. Project DurationThe anticipated project length is approximately 14-16 weeks of crew work, including a two week certification course for prescribed burning (BLM Standards for Fire Training: http://www.blm.gov/nifc/st/en/prog/fire/training/fire_training.html ), during the first month of the program. The current target start date for crew work in the field will be in the Winter, 2016-17.

c. Crew SizeA 6 to 8-person crew will be recruited from the Five Gulf States Region. The host organization will provide crewleaders as needed for training and supervision purposes. The crewleaders will be considered organization staff and not one of the 6 recruited untrained crewmembers.

d. Potential Activity FocusCoastal forests stewardship including prescribed fire preparation and implementation, post-fire monitoring, rare species management/monitoring, boundary posting/painting/maintenance, fence and gate installation/removal, forest type mapping, timber inventory, invasive species management (herbicide application, cutting, etc…), nature trail installation/maintenance, and preserve road maintenance.

e. Tracking The Veterans Conservation Corps Project Grantee will work with TCN to track the number of jobs created, including all labor hours paid for under this grant, acres of marsh, forests or other habitats under improved management, miles of trails or linear habitats under improved management, number of people reached through outreach and education activities, and the number of people with changed behaviors as a result of outreach and education activities.

V. Who Should Apply Applying organizations will be 501(c)(3) non-profits who are located and/or have the capacity to locate and operate in the Five States Gulf Region. Organizations must have documented experience working in the fields of environmental conservation, wildland fire, and prescribed burn activities. Organizations must have experience operating a Conservation Corps program including, but not limited to, 21CSC programs and other Conservation Corps organizations.

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http://www.blm.gov/nifc/st/en/prog/fire/training/fire_training.html


VI. Submission InstructionsQuestions should be directed in writing to:

John HoseyProgram Director, Gulf Coast Restoration InitiativeThe Corps [email protected]

Please submit an electronic copy of required documentation and a completed application cover sheet (page 8) in a Word Document or PDF no later than September 16, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time to The Corps Network at: [email protected].

VII. Application Guidelines

Your application will be reviewed and scored as follows.

GENERAL:Max Number of Pages = n/aTotal Possible Points = Pass/Fail

Instructions Possible Points Points AwardedMeets required application format: Maximum of 10 double-spaced pages, using Times New Roman 11 pt font. Cover letter is optional.

Pass/Fail

TOTAL

SECTION ONE – INTRODUCTION:Max Number of Pages = 1Total Possible Points = 10

Instructions Possible Points Points Awarded1. Organization’s location/s, brief history, and current capacity.

*Applicants who are accredited through the Corps Center of Excellence will receive an additional 5 points on their evaluation’s final score.

10

(Bonus +5)

2. Summary of need and your plan related to this request. 5TOTAL 10

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mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


SECTION TWO – SUMMARY AND SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES:Max Number of Pages = 8Total Possible Points = 40Briefly tell us what you plan to do and what resources (partnerships, leveraging, and training) will be required to accomplish your plan (who, what, where, when and how?)

Instructions Possible Points Points Awarded1. How will you recruit and train the Vets Conservation Corps? Will this be in compliance with the BLM Standards for Fire Training? a. In particular, what experience, if any, does your organization have with recruiting and working with Veterans? (up to 10 bonus points)

10

(Bonus +10)

2. What specific steps will you use in regards to a program/training model (how will you accomplish your goals?).

10

3. Provide at least two specific project examples that will increase Conservation Corps capacity in the Gulf Region. 10

4. Please share your rationale and any supporting evidence for your anticipated effectiveness and successful completion of this project. a. Examples of successful project work.

10

TOTAL 40

SECTION THREE – EXPECTED GOALS, OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS:Max Number of Pages = 1Total Possible Points = 30

Instructions Possible Points Points Awarded1. Based on the scope of work provided in Section Two (What is your anticipated impact?). Please feel free to use a chart format for this section.

30

TOTAL 30

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SECTION FOUR – REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Max Number of Pages = to be included as an appendix to the applicationTotal Possible Points = 20

Instructions Possible Points Points AwardedAppendix A: Brief staff bios (500 words or less per staff member) 5

Appendix B: Staff members’ role in project (title and brief description) 5

Appendix C: Related certifications and/or training experience related to wildland fire crews and conservation activities

5

Appendix D: Two letters of support from partner organizations and/or agencies you have worked with in related projects over the previous five years

5

TOTAL 20

SECTION FIVE – REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND BUDGET INCLUDEDTotal Possible Points = Pass/Fail

Instructions Possible Points Points AwardedAttach required documents and budget (see checklist on following page) Pass/Fail

TOTAL

Total Possible Score(not including bonus pts.)

Score Awarded

GENERAL Pass/FailSECTION 1 10SECTION 2 40SECTION 3 30SECTION 4 20SECTION 5 Pass/Fail

TOTAL: 100

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a. Required Forms and DocumentsCheck-list: Required Documentation for TCN Grantees. Please submit items in Column “A” only.

Required Forms and Documents A. Due w/ Grant Application

B. Required for Sub-Agreement

Most recent 990 **Most recent financial statement (previous year) **Most recent audit **Current W-9 **DUNN and SAM numbers verification **Proof of 501c3 status * **Completed accounting questionnaire (attached) **Certificate of liability insurance (with The Corps Network added)

**

Proof of additional insurance – auto, comprehensive and any other related coverage

**

Project budget (template provided below) * *Contact info for project staff/contractors * *Documentation on any training certifications * *Curriculum used in training (fire and conservation activities) * *First aid/safety certifications (if any) * *Signed agreement(s) with any paid trainers and contractors **

**Please ensure you can provide the following documentation prior to any awarded sub-agreement

b. Required Budget Template - Please submit in Excel Worksheet format

Organization: Date: Contact:Project: Gulf Conservation Corps Restoration Program - VETS FIRE CORPSSub award period: 2016 (Nov-Dec) 2017 (Jan – April/May)

C A T E G O R I ES Budget- yr. 1 Budget- yr. 2 CombinedA.*PERSONNEL B. FRINGE BENEFITSC. CREW Wages/Stipends D. TRAVEL E. EQUIPMENT F. SUPPLIES H. SUB CONTRACTS (Training) I. OTHER J. TOTAL DIRECT COSTS K. INDIRECT COSTS L. TOTALS

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Application Cover Sheet GULF CONSERVATION CORPS RESTORATION PROGRAM – VETERANS CORPS

Name of Organization Submitting Application:

Name of Staff Person Submitting Application:

Email Address:

Phone Number:

Date of Submittal:

Be sure your application follows the outline below:

SECTION ONE – Introduction (1 page)1. Organization’s location/s, brief history, current applicable capacity.2. Summary of need and your plan related to this request.

SECTION TWO – Summary and Specific Activities (8 pages)Briefly tell us what you plan to do and what resources (partnerships, leveraging, and training) will be required to accomplish your plan (who, what, where, when and how?)

1. How will you recruit and train the Vets Conservation Corps? Will this be in compliance with the BLM Standards for Fire Training (http://www.blm.gov/nifc/st/en/prog/fire/training/fire_training.html)?

a. In particular, what experience, if any, does your organization have with recruiting and working with Veterans? (up to 10 bonus points)

2. What specific steps will you use in regards to a program/training model (how will you accomplish your goals?).

3. Provide at least two specific project examples that will increase Conservation Corps capacity in the Gulf Region.

4. Please share your rationale and any supporting evidence for your anticipated effectiveness and successful completion of this project.

a. Examples of successful project work.SECTION THREE – Expected Goals Outcomes and Outputs1. Based on the scope of work provided in Section Two (What is your anticipated impact?). Please feel free to use a chart format for this section. (1 page)SECTION FOUR – Required Supplemental Information (Attach)Appendix A: Brief staff bios (500 words or less per staff member)Appendix B: Staff members’ role in project (title and brief description)Appendix C: Related certifications and/or training experience related to wildland fire crews and conservation activitiesAppendix D: Two letters of support from partner organizations and/or agencies you have worked with in related projects over the previous five yearsSECTION FIVE – Attach required Budget and DocumentsBudget may be submitted as an Excel Document. All other documents should be PDF or Word.

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http://www.blm.gov/nifc/st/en/prog/fire/training/fire_training.html


IX. Map – NFWF Approved Area of Operations

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