Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS 2020 WRR WR
The Forest Service Wildfire Risk Reduction / Wildfire Response RFA 2020 (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA FS 2020 WRR WR; CFDA 10.664) is a discretionary grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. It is positioned within the Forest Service approach known as "Moving Toward Shared Stewardship Across Landscapes," which emphasizes coordinated, cross-boundary work to reduce wildfire risk and improve outcomes at the landscape scale. The specific competitive request for applications highlighted here is the Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy program, aimed at advancing shared wildfire priorities across Midwestern and Northeastern states while also aligning with the Forest Service's budget direction for that year.
At its core, the opportunity funds projects that help implement the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. The program is built around three national goals. The first goal, Restore and Maintain Landscapes, focuses on making landscapes more resilient to fire-related disturbance across all jurisdictions, meaning federal, state, local, tribal, and private lands where applicable. Projects under this goal typically align with management objectives that reduce hazardous fuels, improve forest and vegetation conditions, and support long-term ecosystem health so that when fire occurs, it behaves more within an acceptable range and causes less severe damage. The second goal, Create Fire Adapted Communities, centers on reducing risks to people, homes, and infrastructure by helping communities better withstand wildfire without loss of life or property. This can include prevention, preparedness, mitigation, community planning, and actions that reduce structure ignitability and improve public understanding of wildfire risk. The third goal, Improve Wildfire Response, supports better coordination and decision-making among jurisdictions so that wildfire management is safer, more effective, more efficient, and based on risk. This goal highlights collaboration in planning, operational readiness, interagency response systems, and approaches that improve responder and public safety while using resources strategically.
The grant is designed to be broadly accessible to a wide range of partners who can contribute to wildfire risk reduction and response capacity. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as specified by the opportunity). The eligibility list also includes an "Others" category, indicating that additional applicant types may be eligible depending on the clarifications provided in the full announcement under the eligibility section. Overall, this reflects the program's intent to support cross-boundary collaboration and shared stewardship, where successful projects often involve partnerships among agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
From a funding standpoint, the award ceiling is listed as $150,000, and the Forest Service expected to make approximately 15 awards under this announcement. The opportunity was created on October 28, 2019, with an original closing date of December 20, 2019. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Environment and Natural Resources, which matches the program's emphasis on landscape resilience, community mitigation, and wildfire response improvements.
In practical terms, this RFA is best understood as a targeted competitive funding opportunity for the Midwest and Northeast that supports applied, on-the-ground and programmatic work aligned with the Cohesive Strategy. The Forest Service framing strongly suggests that high-value proposals would demonstrate cross-jurisdiction coordination, a clear connection to one or more of the three national goals, and a credible plan for producing measurable wildfire risk reduction or response improvements at a scale that makes sense for the landscape and communities involved.Apply for USDA FS 2020 WRR WR
- The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Forest Service Wildfire Risk Reduction / Wildfire Response RFA 2020" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.664.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 28, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 20, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Forest Service Wildfire Risk Reduction / Wildfire Response RFA 2020 (USDA FS 2020 WRR WR) - FAQs
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary, competitive grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service called the Forest Service Wildfire Risk Reduction / Wildfire Response RFA 2020. The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA FS 2020 WRR WR and the CFDA is 10.664.
2) What program or initiative is this funding tied to?
The opportunity is positioned within the Forest Service approach described as "Moving Toward Shared Stewardship Across Landscapes." It emphasizes coordinated, cross-boundary efforts to reduce wildfire risk and improve outcomes at a landscape scale.
3) What is the specific competitive program highlighted here?
The specific competitive request for applications described is the Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy program. It is aimed at advancing shared wildfire priorities across Midwestern and Northeastern states and aligning with the Forest Service budget direction for that year.
4) What is the main purpose of the funding?
The funding supports projects that help implement the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. Projects are expected to connect clearly to the Cohesive Strategy and produce measurable wildfire risk reduction or wildfire response improvements appropriate to the landscape and communities involved.
5) What are the three national goals that projects should align with?
The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy is described as having three national goals:
- Restore and Maintain Landscapes
- Create Fire Adapted Communities
- Improve Wildfire Response
6) What kinds of projects fit under "Restore and Maintain Landscapes"?
This goal focuses on making landscapes more resilient to fire-related disturbance across jurisdictions (federal, state, local, tribal, and private lands where applicable). Projects typically align with management objectives that reduce hazardous fuels, improve forest and vegetation conditions, and support long-term ecosystem health so that when fire occurs it behaves more within an acceptable range and causes less severe damage.
7) What kinds of projects fit under "Create Fire Adapted Communities"?
This goal centers on reducing risks to people, homes, and infrastructure by helping communities better withstand wildfire without loss of life or property. It can include prevention, preparedness, mitigation, community planning, and actions that reduce structure ignitability and improve public understanding of wildfire risk.
8) What kinds of projects fit under "Improve Wildfire Response"?
This goal supports improved coordination and decision-making among jurisdictions so wildfire management is safer, more effective, more efficient, and risk-based. It highlights collaboration in planning, operational readiness, interagency response systems, and approaches that improve responder and public safety while using resources strategically.
9) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants listed for this opportunity include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as specified)
- "Others" (additional applicant types may be eligible depending on clarifications in the full announcement eligibility section)
10) Are partnerships encouraged?
Yes. The program intent emphasizes cross-boundary collaboration and shared stewardship. The description indicates that strong projects often involve partnerships among agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders and demonstrate cross-jurisdiction coordination.
11) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as $150,000.
12) How many awards does the Forest Service expect to make?
The Forest Service expected to make approximately 15 awards under this announcement.
13) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
14) What is the activity/category area for this opportunity?
The activity category is Environment and Natural Resources, consistent with the focus on landscape resilience, community mitigation, and wildfire response improvements.
15) When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on October 28, 2019, and the original closing date was December 20, 2019.
16) What geographic area is this opportunity focused on?
The competitive request for applications described (Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy program) is presented as targeted to Midwestern and Northeastern states.
17) What does "shared stewardship across landscapes" mean in the context of this RFA?
Based on the description provided, shared stewardship across landscapes means coordinated, cross-boundary work among multiple jurisdictions and partners to reduce wildfire risk and improve outcomes at a meaningful landscape scale.
18) What characteristics would likely make a proposal more competitive, based on the description?
The framing suggests higher-value proposals would:
- Demonstrate cross-jurisdiction coordination and collaboration
- Show a clear connection to one or more of the three national goals
- Present a credible plan to produce measurable wildfire risk reduction or wildfire response improvements
- Operate at a scale that makes sense for the landscapes and communities involved
19) Does the program address work on non-federal lands?
Yes, the "Restore and Maintain Landscapes" goal is described as spanning all jurisdictions, including federal, state, local, tribal, and private lands where applicable.
20) Where do I find details about the "Others" eligibility category?
The description notes that the "Others" category may include additional eligible applicant types depending on clarifications provided in the full announcement under the eligibility section.
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