§ 230.3 - Application process.

§ 230.3 Application process.

(a) The Forest Service will issue a national request for applications (RFA) for grants under the CFPCommunity Forest Program. The RFA will be posted to http://www.grants.gov as well as other venues. The RFA will include the following information outlined in this final rule:

(1) The process and timeline for submitting an application;

(2) Application requirements (§ 230.4);

(3) Review process and criteria that will be used by the Forest Service (§ 230.5); and

(4) Other conditions determined appropriate by Additional information as the Forest Service determines appropriate.

(b) Pursuant to the RFA, interested eligible entities will submit an application for program participation to:

(1) The State Forester or equivalent official, for applications by local governments and qualified nonprofit organizations, ; or

(2) The equivalent officials of the Indian tribeTribe, for applications submitted by an Indian tribeTribe.

(c) Interested eligible entities will also notify the Forest Service, pursuant to the RFA, when submitting an application to the State Forester or equivalent officials of the Indian tribeTribe.

(d) The State Forester or equivalent official of the Indian tribe Tribe will forward all applications to the Forest Service , and, as time and resources allow:

(1) Provide

, provide a review of each application to help the Forest Service determine:

(

i

1) That the applicant is an eligible entity;

(

ii

2) That the land is eligible;

(

iii

3) That the proposed project has not been submitted for funding consideration under the Forest Legacy Program; and

(

iv

4) Whether the project contributes to a landscape conservation initiative.

(

2) Describe what technical assistance provided through CFP they may render in support of implementing the proposed community forest project and an estimate of needed financial assistance

e) If an applicant seeks technical assistance from the State Forester, nontribal applicants should contact the State Forester to discuss what technical assistance is needed and confirm that the State Forester is willing to provide that assistance. Tribal applicants should work with their equivalent officials (§ 230.2) to discuss and arrange similar technical assistance needs. Applicants must include a separate budget that outlines the financial needs associated with technical assistance activities (§ 230.10).

(

e

f) A proposed application cannot be submitted for funding consideration simultaneously for both the

CFP

Community Forest Program and the Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program (16 U.S.C. 2103c).