Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Prescribed Fire/Fire Recovery

The Forest Service’s Prescribed Fire/Fire Recovery program uses carefully planned, professionally managed fires to help restore the health of forests and other ecosystems that naturally depend on fire. Under safe weather conditions, trained fire experts apply controlled burns to reduce hazardous fuels, improve wildlife habitat, and strengthen the resilience of landscapes at high risk for severe wildfires. The program supports prescribed burning on priority areas identified through the Wildfire Crisis Strategy and coordinates resources across regions as part of the National Prescribed Fire Resource Mobilization Strategy. Through these efforts, the program helps protect communities, maintain healthy ecosystems, and reduce the likelihood of destructive wildfires. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed Congress and was recently signed by the President committing federal appropriations for Wildland Fire Management activities; including fuels management activities, prescribed fire and related activities, burned area rehabilitation, and post fire recovery; in fiscal years 2022 through 2026

The partner must maintain the information provided in the original award in the System for Award Management (SAM) until receipt of final payment. This requires review and update to the information on an annual basis after the initial registration. More frequent reviews may be required to make necessary changes in information. System for Award Management (SAM) is the Federal repository into which an entity must provide information required for the conduct of business as a Cooperative. Additional information about registration procedures may be found at the SAM Internet site (https://www.sam.gov). In addition, the partner must immediately inform the U.S. Forest Service if they or any of their principals are presently excluded, debarred, or suspended from entering into covered transactions with the Federal Government according to the terms of 2 CFR Part 180. In the event that the partner or any of their principals receive a transmittal letter or other official Federal notice of debarment or suspension, they shall notify the U.S. Forest Service without undue delay. This applies whether the exclusion, debarment, or suspension is voluntary or involuntary.

Cooperator match contributions shall align with the statutory authority requirements, may be greater or less than 20 percent.