Fuels for Schools Construction Grant RFP. Is your school ready to benefit?

Here is our Request For Proposals and application form for the next round of construction grants for Fuels for Schools biomass boiler projects. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I would be glad to send you a hard copy of the instructions and application if you prefer ~ please contact me to request one. This will also be available

Please feel free to share this as you see fit.
I am looking forward to some excellent proposals this year!
Angela

Angela Farr

Biomass Utilization Coordinator

Montana DNRC

office 406.542.4239

cell 406.370.1099

(Thanks to Craig Rawlings for passing this along. – Russ)

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Additional information and an electronic version of this RFP can be found on the following website:

http://dnrc.mt.gov/Forestry/Assistance/Biomass/default.asp

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INTENT OF FUELS FOR SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTION GRANTS
In recent years, throughout the Western United States, severe wildfires have cost billions of dollars, while destroying homes, damaging watersheds, eliminating critical wildlife habitat and putting firefighters’ lives at risk. Reducing the amount of dense forest, shrubs and rangeland fuels can significantly reduce severe forest wildfire behavior and improve forest health and resilience by reducing the spread of insects and disease. Often this type of work is expensive and there is no use for the waste biomass, which becomes a disposal problem. Typically, this material is either wastefully burned in the forest or sent to landfills.

The intent of the Fuels For Schools (FFS) Construction grant program is to stimulate interest and increase knowledge in the use of renewable biomass heating energy sources and systems, and to promote the beneficial use of wood waste that is not currently being utilized. This is accomplished in part by assisting public schools and other public institutions with the conversion of their heating systems. The anticipated results are: increased public awareness about biomass use, reduced public building heating costs, reduced cost of treating wildland fire hazardous fuels, improved forest conditions, and reduced contribution to atmospheric carbon dioxide accumulations.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Applicants eligible for FFS funding are as follows:
Schools or other public institutions in communities in Montana (e.g., municipality, town, township, or other similar unit of general purpose local government).
Schools or other public institutions in communities within Indian reservations in Montana.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITES

Grants up to $400,000 but no more than 35% of the total project cost for converting existing facilities to biomass heat or no more than 25% of the additional cost of incorporating biomass heat into new construction, are available under this program. The program will provide funds toward the design, purchase and installation of a new biomass boiler system and a chip or pellet storage facility. The program does not cover the cost of renovation or refurbishment of existing heat distribution systems. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) reserves the right to offer a different grant amount than proposed by applicants.

FUNDING GUIDELINES

Available funding varies from year to year depending on annual Congressional appropriations. For each proposal, the federal contribution cannot exceed 35% of the cost of the biomass burner/boiler, associated buildings, and connections to the existing system. Priority for funding is given to proposals with a higher match.

During the first five (5) years of use, each funded project must make every reasonable effort to obtain at least 50% of the biomass fuel consumed from material that would otherwise be un-used (e.g., piled and burned or chipped and scattered). Sources of this 50% include logging slash, dead trees, small diameter trees, shrubs and other biomass contributing to wildfire hazard. They may also include material removed in municipal tree trimming, clearing around power lines, or clearing for development, as long as that material is not being diverted from other uses. Failure to demonstrate that the project is meeting this fuel supply requirement will result in action to reclaim grant funds.

All awards from this grant program shall be considered final awards to the project(s) selected. If project costs increase beyond what was projected at the time of the grant award, the grantee is responsible for finding additional funding from sources outside this program.

APPLICABLE COST PRINCIPLES AND ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

Federal grant funds are awarded under the provisions of applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars governing administrative rules, costs, and audits. Applicants receiving federal grants shall administer grant funds in accordance with the applicable OMB circulars. State, local and tribal governments are subject to A-102 Administrative Requirements and A-87 Cost Principles. Institutions of Higher Education are subject to A-110 Administrative Requirements and A-21 Cost Principles. Non-Profit Organizations are subject to A-110 Administrative Requirements and A-122 Cost Principles. OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-profit Organizations applies to all grantees. Applicants are encouraged to access and review the appropriate OMB circulars prior to requesting federal grant funds. Copies of the OMB circulars may be obtained on-line at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/index.html.

Additional information and an electronic version of this RFP can be found on the following website:

http://dnrc.mt.gov/Forestry/Assistance/Biomass/default.asp

Related Stories:

Bitterroot National Forest donates slash for Darby Fuels for Schools http://www.matr.net/article-17151.html

More schools look to tree debris to heat rooms – Forest Service program uses thinned slash in boilers http://www.matr.net/article-16811.html

Townsend, Montana to join growing list of biomass schools http://www.matr.net/article-16588.html

Fuels for Schools growing http://www.matr.net/article-16371.html

Kellogg,Idaho schools may use wood heat to save money http://www.matr.net/article-16210.html