Stewardship Agreements
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
Stewardship End Result Contracting authorizes use of contracts and agreements to help achieve land management goals while meeting local and rural community needs, including contributing to the sustainability of rural communities and providing a continuing source of local income and employment. It focuses on the “end result” ecosystem benefits and outcomes, rather than on what's removed from the land.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- State
- Nonprofit Organization
- Local
- U.S. Federal Government
The Forest Service may enter into stewardship agreements with any entity that has the ability to either perform the work or contract it out. This can include, state and local governments, Federally recognized tribes and non-profit organizations.
Appropriate Stewardship Activities include (but are not limited to):
Road and trail maintenance or obliteration to restore or maintain water quality;
Soil productivity, habitat for wildlife and fisheries or other resource values;
Setting of prescribed fires to reduce wildfire hazards, improve the composition, structure, condition, and health of forest stands, or to improve wildlife habitat;
Removing vegetation or other activities to promote healthy forest stands, reduce wildfire hazards, or achieve other land management objectives;
Watershed restoration and maintenance;
Restoration and maintenance of wildlife and fish habitat;
Control of noxious and exotic weeds and reestablishment of native plant species.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Stewardship projects are typically developed in a collaborative process between the Forest Service and stakeholders and approved by a regional forester or forest supervisor prior to execution of a Stewardship Agreement. A stewardship project may include one or many land management activities affecting areas from a few acres in size up to one or more watersheds. Many stewardship projects may be completed by a partner throughout the life of the (master) agreement.
In order to use a stewardship agreement, a few elements must exist: the regional forester must approve the stewardship proposal submitted by the national forest unit; mutual interest and mutual benefit between the Forest Service and the partner exist in the same qualitative way; and both parties are contributing to the project to achieve mutually beneficial results.
Retained receipts generated from stewardship projects can only be used on the same or other stewardship projects. We can use appropriated funds and retained receipts to accomplish stewardship activities with an emphasis on restoration, product removal is not required. Monitoring and support should be an integral part of the collaborative process when deciding which projects to pursue using retained receipts.
Program details & compliance
Description
The Forest Service may enter into stewardship agreements with any entity that has the ability to either perform the work or contract it out. This can include, state and local governments, Federally recognized tribes and non-profit organizations. Appropriate Stewardship Activities include (but are not limited to): Road and trail maintenance or obliteration to restore or maintain water quality; Soil productivity, habitat for wildlife and fisheries or other resource values; Setting of prescribed fires to reduce wildfire hazards, improve the composition, structure, condition, and health of forest stands, or to improve wildlife habitat; Removing vegetation or other activities to promote healthy forest stands, reduce wildfire hazards, or achieve other land management objectives; Watershed restoration and maintenance; Restoration and maintenance of wildlife and fish habitat; Control of noxious and exotic weeds and reestablishment of native plant species.
Mission Categories
Primary: Forestry
Other categories:
ForestryFish and Wildlife Preservation
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
The general purpose of stewardship contracting is to achieve land management goals for National Forest System lands while meeting local and rural community needs. A stewardship contract or agreement should be used when it is the most effective tool for accomplishing land management objectives. Where forest products will be removed from National Forest areas, it is recommended that the unit provide the cooperator the updated preferred bidders list for contract awards. Stewardship agreements are awarded on a best approach determination that takes into account a technical and cost evaluation. Stewardship agreements typically include the exchange of goods (such as forest products) for services, use of retained receipts, or a combination of both. Use of stewardship agreements requires that mutual interest and mutual benefit between the Forest Service and the partner exist in the same qualitative way. All stewardship projects must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Stewardship projects must be consistent with plans relevant to the project, including: land and resource management plans; range allotment plans; fire management plans; and facilities master plans. All projects must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and agency direction affecting the project areas, including those addressing wilderness areas, endangered species, clean air and clean water, inventoried roadless areas, minimum road system (36 CFR 212.5(b)/FSM 7710.3), designations for motor vehicle use (36 CFR 212.56), and any other requirements for designated special areas. All contracts and agreements must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and agency direction.
Restrictions
All stewardship projects must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Stewardship projects must be consistent with plans relevant to the project, including: land and resource management plans; range allotment plans; fire management plans; and facilities master plans. All projects must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and agency direction affecting the project areas, including those addressing wilderness areas, endangered species, clean air and clean water, inventoried roadless areas, minimum road system (36 CFR 212.5(b)/FSM 7710.3), designations for motor vehicle use (36 CFR 212.56), and any other requirements for designated special areas. All contracts and agreements must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and agency direction. Stewardship Agreements should not be used for: Forest Service overhead costs; Forest Service salaries for contract/agreement development, preparation, or administration; Project planning or environmental analysis; Construction of administrative facilities or major developed facilities; Utilization of forage within an allotment that could be authorized through a grazing permit; Protection, operation, or maintenance of improvements resulting from stewardship projects; Research; Preparation and planning of administrative studies; Land Acquisition.
Required Documentation
When negotiating Stewardship Agreements, the discussions must cover at a minimum, a description of the project, including methodology and technical specifications; both parties’ contributions; the responsibilities of the parties; deliverables, reporting requirements; the period of performance; and monitoring. Regardless of who initiates discussions, all elements of a project are subject to negotiation at any time.
The Forest Service will provide the partner, at a minimum, a map of the stewardship project area, a description of work to be accomplished; the desired outcome (end results) and the environmental analysis documents. It is also recommended that the Forest Service unit provide the cooperator the updated preferred bidders list for projects where forest product removal is being contemplated.
Matching Requirements
Stewardship agreements are expected to have a 20 percent partner match. However, the Partner is only required to match at least 20 percent of the “Total Federal Share” column in the “Stewardship FP” tab of the stewardship agreement financial plan. The partner is not required to match the value of the “Forest Product (Goods) for services” tab in the financial plan. In the event of a low value of match and a high value of goods for services the Line Officer should carefully consider whether the project is better suited to a competitively awarded stewardship contract instead of a stewardship agreement.