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1 1 (April 15, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govziu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the legislative debate since 1914 0 April 15, 2019 Stewardship End Result Contracting: Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Stewardship end result contracting, often called stewardship contracting, is a Forest Service (FS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) contracting mechanism allowing these agencies to pursue land management goals by combining restoration services and forest product harvesting into a single project (see below). FS and BLM may trade goods for services in a given project by applying the value of harvested forest products toward the value of restoration services. These features make stewardship contracting an administrative efficiency tool, through which FS and BLM may reduce the complexity and cost of implementing restoration projects. The stewardship contracting mechanism allows FS and BLM to combine a contract for the sale of forest products with a contract for restoration services. FS and BLM may also enter into stewardship agreements, generally if the project provides mutual benefit to both the partner and the agency. Projects using either mechanism are used to achieve specified land management goals on lands in the National Forest System (NFS), managed by FS, or on the public lands, managed by BLM. Unless otherwise specified, stewardship project refers to both contracts and agreements. Project Attributes Stewardship projects are used to achieve specified land management goals, or end results. Activities conducted as part of the project, including restoration services or forest product harvesting, contribute to these goals, which may include any of the following, as specified in 16 U.S.C. §6591c.: * 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 improve the composition, structure, condition, and health of stands or to improve wildlife habitat. * Removing vegetation or other activities to promote healthy forest stands, reduce fire hazards, or achieve other land management objectives. * Watershed restoration and maintenance. * Restoration and maintenance of fish and wildlife. * Control of noxious and exotic weeds and reestablishing native plant species. In pursuit of a project's specified goals, FS and BLM may engage in restoration services, such as noxious weed treatment, prescribed fire, or vegetation planting. This is the services portion of a stewardship contract. Contracts also include provisions for contractors to harvest and sell specified forest products, such as timber, within the contract area, if it also contributes to the goals of the project (e.g., selective logging of diseased or insect-infested trees). This is the goods portion of a stewardship contract. For example, a contract specifying a desired goal of enhancing migratory bird habitat may authorize the contractor to cut and sell certain species (i.e., sell goods) to alter forest stand composition, install nest boxes, and relocate trails to improve habitat (i.e., perform services).To execute a project under the stewardship contracting authority, FS and BLM enter into a single integrated resource contract or stewardship agreement for services rendered (services) and timber or other forest products sold (goods). FS and BLM award contracts and agreements on a best value basis, meaning that the agencies consider proposal quality, expertise, past performance, and price in awarding a contract. FS and BLM may give a procurement preference to contractors who would promote an innovative use of forest products. Generally, stewardship contracts must be completed in 10 years. In Section 207 of the FY2018 omnibus appropriations bill (P.L. 115-141), Congress authorized the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to extend contract terms on a one-time basis to 20 years for lands in specified areas. Legislative History Congress first authorized stewardship contracting pilot projects in the FY1999 omnibus appropriations act, (P.L. 105-277), subsequently extended and expanded the authority several times, and made it permanent in 2014 through section 8205 of P.L. 113-79 (16 U.S.C. §6591c). A brief legislative history is given below below: * P.L. 105-277, Section 347 (FY1999 omnibus appropriations act): Authorized FS to enter into 28 pilot stewardship contracts with private entities, each of up to 10 years in duration. Required nine projects to be in FS Region 1. * P.L. 106-113, Section 341 (FY2000 consolidated appropriations act): Amended P.L. 105-277 to authorize FS to use agreements as well as contracts. * P.L. 106-291, Section 338 (FY2001 Interior and related agencies appropriations act): Authorized FS to enter into 28 additional pilot projects. Required nine projects to be in FS Region 1 and three in FS Region 6. * P.L. 107-63, Section 332 (FY2002 Interior and related agencies appropriations act): Authorized FS to enter into 28 additional pilot projects. Required nine projects to be in FS Region 1 and three in FS Region 6. * P.L. 108-7, Section 323 (FY2003 consolidated appropriations act): Authorized both FS and BLM to enter into an unrestricted number of stewardship contracts and agreements through FY2013. This was the first time Congress authorized BLM to use stewardship contracting. https:I/crsreports.conc -- -g

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