10.673 Wood in Transportation Program

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Content provided by the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
10.673 Wood in Transportation Program

FEDERAL AGENCY:

FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AUTHORIZATION:

Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, Title XII State and Private Forestry, Subtitle B Research and Education, Chapter 2 Specialized Research. Sec. 1241, Research and Utilization.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide funds, on a cost share basis, for the construction of demonstration modern timber bridges and modern timber bridge technology transfer projects. Primary focus is to assist in the development and commercialization of new technologies that incorporate underutilize timber and related resources to the extent that is economically feasible.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants.
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USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Local and state governments, and nonprofit organizations are eligible provided the structure(s) is to be built on public lands.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:
Nonfederal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, tribal nations.
Beneficiary Eligibility:   Nonfederal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, tribal nations.
Credentials/Documentation:   Assistance is in response to improving the nation's transportation infrastructure by promoting the use of wood for transportation applications. Final design of all structures to be completed with financial assistance must be approved by a licensed, professional engineer.

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APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Pre-application Coordination:   An application package/proposal format is developed each year that provides guidelines for applicants to follow in developing their proposal. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure:   A formal request for proposals is announced on http://www.fs.fed.us/na/wit.
Award Procedure:   Proposals are submitted to the Forest Service. Proposals are evaluated based on a number of criteria including cost effectiveness, longevity, serviceability and the use of underutilized wood species/new technologies to the extent possible, adherence to design codes.
Deadlines:   Completed applications are due to the Forest Service normally two to three months after the announcement of the request for proposals.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
From 45 to 90 days after the application is filed with the Forest Service.
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:   SF-424(A) with SF-424 application is required to amend the awarded amount or length of commitment. Unsuccessful applications can be resubmitted in a future year.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:
None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Cost-share payments are 50 percent of project costs. Matching funds cannot come from other federal sources.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Annual accomplishment reports and final accomplishment report7.

Audits:  Recipients are subject to audit by the Office of Inspector General, USDA.
Records:   Records will be maintained in the Forest Service's State and Private Forestry office, located in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania..

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:

12-1105-0-1-302.

Obligations:
FY 03 $478,000; FY 04 est $416,000; and FY 05 est $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
Maximum cost share amount are $150,000 for commercialization projects, $50,000 for single vehicular timber bridge projects, $20,000 for singular pedestrian timber bridge projects, and $30,000 for a special project.

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PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Fiscal year 2001 funds provided partners the ability to design and build 16 modern timber bridges as well as sponsored a national student design competition and a national timber bridge awards program. In fiscal year 2002, funds provided partners the ability to design and build 42 timber bridges as well as sponsor a national student design competition. Program funds for both years enabled the National Wood In Transportation Information Center, located in Morgantown, WV, to function and expand is technology transfer assistance to communities and businesses located throughout the United States.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-87 are applicable to State and Local Governments, A-110 and A-21 are applicable to educational institutions, and A-110 and A-122 are applicable to Nonprofit Organizations. USDA Implementing Regulations 7 CFR 3015, 3016, 3017, 3018, and 3019 also apply depending on the type of recipient. The program is announced through the Wood In Transportation Program's website and through distribution by regional forest service offices and distribution by the National Wood In Transportation Information Center.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   For the list of Forest Service's Regional and Local office coordinators visit website http://www.fs.fed.us/na/wit.
Headquarters Office:   USDA Forest Service, 180 Canfield Street, Morgantown, WV 26505. Telephone: 304-285-1591. FAX: 304-285-1587. E-mail: na-wit@fs.fed.us.
Web Site Address:   http://www.fs.fed.us/na/wit

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Projects range from the design and construction of modern vehicular timber bridges, pedestrian timber bridges, and portable timber bridges, to student design competitions, to market assessments and to non-typical structures such as aqueducts and retaining walls, to the development of technical publications, to monitoring the performance of recently completed structures. Specific examples include the design and construction of two glued-laminated modern timber bridges in White County, GA, three stress-laminated modern vehicular timber bridges in Mat-Su Borough, AK, to a timber suspension bridge along the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey, to a National Timber Bridge Awards competition in Washington.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

An evaluation panel is convened on an annual basis to rate proposals received. Proposals are evaluated based on a number of criteria including cost effectiveness, longevity, service ability, the use of underutilized wood species/new technologies to the extent possible, adherence to design codes, as well as meeting the overall goals of the program.

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