Idaho Community Forestry

COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT (CTE)
GRANT PROGRAM

2004-2005

Overview and CTE Grant Application in Microsoft WORD fill-in format

List of ITD Contacts for Obtaining Form 2109

Program Overview

Program Purpose

Community Transportation Enhancement (CTE) grants are available to Idaho communities on a competitive basis. The purpose of the grant program is to enhance community transportation corridors through the planting of trees and shrubs. The program is also intended to educate, stimulate interest in, and assist with the development of sustainable community forestry programs in communities throughout Idaho .

Eligible Projects

A wide range of projects are eligible for funding. CTE projects must be located on public land (federal, state or local government) and must enhance transportation corridors. Transportation corridors refer to public streets or highways, bicycle and/or pedestrian sidewalks and trails. The Idaho Department of Lands is looking for projects that serve as many people as possible, involve volunteers, show or will result in knowledge of approved tree care techniques, and demonstrate an awareness of the benefits of trees and the importance of a local forestry program. Among the many possible eligible project activities are the following:

• Community entrance landscaping
• Plantings along main street and adjacent streets
• Plantings along walking/biking trails within or adjacent to cities
• Landscaping vacant lots along main street
• Plantings to screen unsightly areas
• Plantings to enhance railroad and airport corridors along public rights-of-way
• Establishing a community arboretum along a transportation corridor
• Planting a community windbreak, living snow-fence, recreation area protection, etc. along transportation routes

Program Requirements

• OMB Compliance—All grant work and expenditures must comply with the Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations. The applicable circulars are:
• OMB Circular A-102 (revised 8/29/97 )
• Code of Federal Regulations 49 CFR Part 18, 20 and 29
• OMB Circular A-87 (revised 5/10/04 )
• OMB Circular A-133 (revised 6/24/97 )

For copies of these circulars visit www.idaho.gov/lands (click on community forestry and then grants).

• Bidding of Projects—All purchases of goods or contracts for services over $500 must be made through competitive bidding. Written documentation must be maintained as to the parties solicited and notified, bid amounts, and the justification for selection if the low bid is not accepted. All bids that are to be evaluated on criteria other than price alone must have written bid specifications detailing evaluation criteria.
• Davis Bacon Act—This legislation sets wages on federally funded projects greater than $2,000. It applies to all Enhancement projects within an existing Federal-aid highway right-of-way, or linked to a Federal-aid facility by proximity or impact. It does not apply to work by highway agency forces. Contractors may not use volunteer labor on Davis Bacon projects, but state or local agencies can if the workers are under their direct control as a force account effort.

Davis Bacon requirements will apply to some roads within a city that are Federal-aid roads. More information on the Davis Bacon Act can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/statutes/whd/dbra.htm

• For projects on public property with a total value exceeding $5,000 and involving a business contractor (tree care or landscape company, etc.), the business must obtain a public works license in accordance with Idaho Code 54-19, Public Works Contractors License Act. For more information about licensing, contact the Public Works Contractors State License Board at the following Idaho toll free number:
  1-800-358-6895.
• A 3–year detailed plan for maintenance of the project must be prepared and submitted as part of the application. If funded, plan must be followed by the city.
• Plant materials used must meet specifications of the American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1, most current edition). Planting must conform to IDL planting specifications (revised 7/04).

Project Costs—Reimbursable

(List in Column “A” on Budget Pages 8 & 9)

Grant funds may be used for direct project costs only. This includes:

• Plant Material —costs of purchasing appropriate plant material including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. Turf grass plantings and annual flowers are not eligible.
• Plant Installation —cost of installing plant material including equipment rental, mulching, staking (if necessary), tree grates or brick pavers around trees or between grates, and finish work.
• Site Preparation —all necessary activity to prepare the project site for planting including grading, clean-up, vegetation removal, topsoil, and soil testing and improvements.
• Hardscape —up to 20% of grant funds can be used for hardscape elements such as paths and walkways, landscaping rocks, fences, retaining walls, signs and benches. These hardscape elements should be in direct vicinity of and related to the tree planting. Structures such as gazebos, restrooms, shelters, and work such as asphalt removal or parking lot paving, etc. are not eligible.
• Low-Output Irrigation —design, installation and/or renovation of low-output (drip, micro-spray, etc.) irrigation systems deemed necessary to the success of the project. Turf irrigation is only eligible with prior approval from Idaho Department of Lands.
• Maintenance —of new plantings is required for 3 years. However, grant funds can be used for contracted maintenance costs during the project period (through September 2005).

Project Costs—Eligible for Cash Match

(Non-Reimbursable / List in Column “B” on Budget Pages 8 & 9)

All activities listed under eligible uses for grant funding are also eligible as cash match. In addition:

• City Personnel & Equipment —costs for city equipment and for city employees while working on this project can be used as part of the applicant cash match. Note: city employee personnel and equipment costs cannot be paid with grant funds.
• Turf —costs related to turf and turf irrigation costs adjacent to the planted trees are eligible. For instance, turf in a median strip where the trees are planted.
• Hardscape —Hardscape elements such as paths and walkways, landscaping rocks, fences, retaining walls, signs and benches integral to the landscape project.

Project Costs—Donated / In-Kind

(Non-Reimbursable / List in Column “C” on Budget Pages 8 & 9)

• Value of donated materials or services directly related to the project.
• Value of volunteer time in completing the project.

Non-Eligible Project Costs

• Capital outlay having a cost greater than $500.
• Acquisition of property, maintenance costs of the plantings beyond September 30, 2005 , engineering, right-of-way, and utility expenses.
• Any expenses being reimbursed by—or used as match for—another federal grant project.

Application Requirements

To be eligible for funding, the following attachments must be submitted with your completed application:

• A list of the members of your Community Tree Committee 1
• A copy of your Community Forestry Annual Work Plan. 1
• A copy of your Community Tree Ordinance 2
• Photographs or slides of proposed project site (35 mm or digital preferred)
• Vicinity map showing location of project
• Project planting design plan—drawn to scale and with a North arrow.
• All projects that will be located on state or federal highway right-of-way must be reviewed by the Idaho Transportation Department district office. An ITD signature is required verifying the project is being reviewed, and an ITD Form 2109–“Application for Permit to Use Right-of-Way Approaches” will be required to request use of the right-of-way for landscaping purposes. The applicant will provide a completed and approved ITD Form 2109 for this project and required revisions no later than Monday, October 15, 2004 .

1 If your community does not have a tree committee or annual forestry work plan, you will be required to certify on page 9 of your application that these items will be established/ developed by September 30, 2005 and submitted with final report. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from future grant program participation until requirements are met.

Information about developing these documents and sample documents can be obtained from the Community Forestry office at the address listed on page i of this overview.

2Onlycommunities that received and successfully completed a CTE (and/or UCF) grant in previous years and apply for and receive a 2004-05 CTE grant, are required to develop a tree ordinance during the 2004-05 project period. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from future grant program participation until these requirements are met.

Completed applications for funding must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. PDT , Friday, September 17, 2004 to the following address:

Community Forestry Coordinator
Idaho Department of Lands
3780 Industrial Avenue, South
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83815
Or sent by FAX to (208) 769-1524

If application is submitted by FAX, a hard-copy original must be received by September 21, 2004 .

Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be reviewed and ranked by a committee composed of the Community Forestry Coordinator or designated representative, an ITD representative, and members of the Idaho Community Forestry Council. The funding recommendations of this committee will be presented to the State Forester for approval. Applicants should be notified of their award status by December 1, 2004 .

One of the measures of success for this program is the leveraging of local support (cash and donated services). It is important that the applicant indicate all anticipated project expenses (grant funds requested, local cash and donated services) required to successfully complete the tree planting project as described in their project application budget. A donated service schedule is attached to assist applicants in determining the value of donated project activities.

Applications will be evaluated as follows

Minimum Requirements for Eligibility

• Does the community have a tree committee and an annual forestry work plan? If not, is there a commitment to developing these program components?
• Has the community developed and presented a tree ordinance to the appropriate governing body? If not, and applicant has received a prior UCF or CTE grant, is there a commitment to do so?
• Is the budget calculation form accurately completed?
• Are required attachments included with the application?

Evaluation Criteria

• Does the application express an interest in utilizing the grant to help them develop or improve a sustainable community forestry program?
• Does the project have a clear purpose? Are goals stated clearly? Does the project description provide a clear understanding of what will be accomplished?
• Does the project address specific needs? If so, will the project provide a positive impact on the community and the impacted transportation corridor?
• Has the applicant demonstrated that this project is their most pressing need?
• Do project personnel possess necessary qualifications or experience to carry out program goals?
• Are the project design plan, work plan and 3–year maintenance plan timelines well thought out and realistic?
• Are the plant materials appropriate for the project site?
• Does the project budget appear reasonable for the proposed activities?
• What is the level of local support (cash and/or donated services) provided in addition to grant funds requested?
• Is the application completed with all questions answered clearly and completely?
• Past grant funding:
• Were positive results achieved in previous grants?
• Number of previous CTE grants received by recipient will be considered.
• Tree City USA status will be used as a tiebreaker.

Review and Compliance

Project grant funds will be distributed on a reimbursement basis. Reimbursement will not be made until expenditures have actually been paid and proof of payment provided.

Project expenses for which you will seek reimbursement must be incurred between the award date and September 30, 2005 .

Reimbursement requests may be submitted monthly, quarterly, and/or at the completion of the project. A narrative report summarizing the status/outcome of the project must be included with each request for reimbursement. Photos of the completed project are required to be included with the final report. Final reimbursement will not be made until the entire project is completed and approved by IDL.

Following the awarding of grants, the Idaho Department of Lands may conduct periodic project inspections for up to 3 years and a final project audit to assure compliance with project Memorandum of Understanding.