The Southern Arizona Resource Advisory Committee Announces a Request for Proposals

Release Date: Apr 11, 2024

Contact(s): Robyn Abeyta

Tucson, Ariz., (April 11, 2024) – The Southern Arizona Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) is accepting proposals through May 31, 2024, from federal agencies, state and local governments, tribal governments, private and nonprofit entities, and landowners for protection, restoration and enhancement of resource conditions, and infrastructure maintenance. Projects in National Forest System (NFS) lands, and in non-Federal lands where these projects would benefit resources on NFS lands, are eligible to apply. 

Funds are provided by the Secure Rural Schools Program Title II Special Projects on Federal Lands and are generated from fees of multi-use activities such as grazing permits, timber production, and special use permits. The permits are retained by the forest service and allocated to specific projects under the authority of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act. 

Available Funds: Total funds available for RAC Project Proposals: $1.172 million. Funds are available by county and have been allocated as follows: Cochise ($293,000), Maricopa ($152,000), Santa Cruz ($387,000), Pima ($94,000), and Pinal ($235,000).  

There is no maximum dollar limit however, applicants are encouraged to make proposals scalable. In the previous funding cycles, approved projects ranged in value from $26,000 to $154,000, with an average value of $38,000. 

Project Proposal Eligibility: At least 50% of all project funds are to be used for projects that primarily benefit road maintenance, decommissioning, or obliteration; or restoration of streams and watersheds. 

The following types of projects are eligible for proposals: 

• Road, trail access, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration 
• Soil health and productivity improvement 
• Forest ecosystem health and productivity improvement 
• Watershed restoration, preservation, and maintenance 
• Restoration, maintenance, and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat 
• Control of noxious and/or invasive weeds 
• Re-establishment of native species 
• Projects that encourage sustainable recreation opportunities 
• Other (fire prevention, integrated pest management etc.) 

Project Proposal Evaluation: It is important to the Southern Arizona Resource Advisory Committee to solicit a diversity of proposals that support local communities and their ties to National Forest System lands, and that we work together to promote community engagement, partnerships, collaboration, and local leadership; to improve the sustainability of local economies, ecological services and stewardship opportunities on public lands.    

Project proposals will be evaluated on how well they address the goals listed above and demonstrate cost-effectiveness, enhance the quality of life in our region, provide employment opportunities, and improve watershed and ecosystem health. If projects can be scalable, please specify in what way they can be scaled up or down and provide a corresponding budget. Please state if the proposed project requires regulatory review (i.e. NEPA, ESA, NHPA) or if regulatory review has been completed.  

Potential applicants need to present and discuss the proposal with their local District Ranger and receive the support of the District Ranger before submission. District Ranger contacts can be found under the proposal information tab. For road projects, applicants should ensure the local District Ranger’s collaborate with Forest Service engineers and County Road Department to plan and implement work for the proposed project.   

Project Proposal Submission: Please use the proposal templates and ensure your proposal contains all the information in the Proposal Requirements Checklist. Additional information for applicants can be found at this webpage.  

Please send completed proposals to Robyn Abeyta (robyn.abeyta@usda.gov) or 300 W. Congress Street, 6th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701.  

Deadline for submission of project proposals is Friday, May 31, 2024, at 6 p.m. Proposals submitted after 6 p.m. will not be accepted.  The Southern Arizona RAC will be reviewing proposals in July 2024. The meeting announcement will be posted on the Coronado National Forest website and in the Federal register.   

For questions regarding the Southern Arizona RAC, please contact RAC Coordinator, Robyn Abeyta (robyn.abeyta@usda.gov), at the Coronado National Forest Supervisor’s Office.  

For any additional questions feel free to contact the Coronado National Forest at Mailroom_R3_Coronado@usda.gov. For the most current updates about the Coronado National Forest, please follow us on Facebook and X, formally Twitter.