Policy

PolicyBranch
Branch

Grants and Agreements

Great American Outdoors Act
Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF)

Washington Office February 23, 2023

October 2022
Office of Grants &
Agreements
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 MUTE

 MUTE

 If you called in via phone, please ensure you

are on MUTE

 THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED

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 VPN

For an optimal streaming experience during this

meeting, please do the following:

 Disconnect from VPN (note: you will not get

any emails during the meeting)

 Turn off camera if you are not presenting

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 TEAMS Meeting Live Captioning

Instructions to enable closed captioning in Teams

Meeting mode:

 Click on the three dots in the top toolbar

 Towards the bottom of the menu select “Turn

on live captions”

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 OG&A SharePoint

OG&A SharePoint Training Page

https://usdagcc.sharepoint.com/sites/fs-wo-ga/SitePages/Training.aspx

 Look under Training section/ National Training:

 Presentation slides posted COB Today
 Session recordings can be found in Stream
 Follow our GATE Academy Channel for the latest
recording (Links in the chat)

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 Upcoming Trainings

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 Rules of Behavior

 Be present for the training (limit distractions).

 Be respectful to everyone.

 Questions should be relevant to the training topic

(region specific questions, deviation/policy requests,
agreement specific questions, should be submitted to
the G&A Policy Inbox via the Deviation Request Form.

 Please do not contact the presenters regarding

questions while they are presenting.

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 Q&A

 There will be polling questions and knowledge checks

during the training.

 Please wait till the end of the presentation if you have a

question or comment for the presenter.

 Please wait to be called before unmuting or sharing

your camera (to limit any distractions from the
presentation).

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 AgLearn Registered Attendees

 Your participation will be recorded in AgLearn

when you complete the one question quiz.

 After you have completed the quiz, you will be

given the CLP credit for this course.

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 Course Logistics

Silence cell phones. Be respectful.

Participate, share experiences,

and ask questions at Respect this space —
conclusion. leave no trace!

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 Presenter Introduction

Welcome to Forest Service G&A GAOA LRF GATE Training! 

Nathan Brenda Sheree Alicia

Hoover Christensen Oluwafemi Maestas

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 POLL – Who is our audience?

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 Goals for Today

 GAOA LRF Overview

 Notable Changes

 GAOA LRF Resources

 Non-G&A Cross training

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 Agenda

1 What is GAOA LRF?

2 G&A Processes

3 Fiscal

4 GAOA LRF G&A Resources

5 The Future of GAOA LRF

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 What is GAOA LRF?

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 Overview
 The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) (PL116-152) was enacted
on August 4th, 2020.
 Established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration
Fund (LRF).
 FS receives up to $285 million for
each fiscal year 2021-2025.
 To reduce agencies’ real property asset
deferred maintenance backlog.

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 GAOA Definitions

• LRF “…shall be used for priority deferred maintenance projects …”.

• Projects are “any activity to reduce or eliminate deferred
maintenance of an asset, which may include resolving directly
related infrastructure deficiencies of the asset that would not by
itself be classified as deferred maintenance”.
• Assets are “any real property including any physical structure or
grouping of structures, landscape, trail, or other tangible property,
that has a specific service or function and is tracked and managed as
a distinct, identifiable entity by the applicable covered agency” .
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 GAOA LRF Program

 Core Team
 Director, Deputy Director, Certified Program Manager, Engineer, Economist, Budget Analyst, Information Manager,
Partnership Coordinator, and Communication Specialist

 Program Support team includes representation from OGA, PPS,

SPBA, and Legislative Affairs
 Major program under the Program Management Improvement
Accountability Act of 2016 (PMIAA).
 Program Management Plan and Acquisition Strategy approved by USDA

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 GAOA LRF Program

Established a new norm using best management practices

for Project Management

 Project Tracking from project development, selection and approval to

implementation and completion using NRM Infra Projects Module

 Ensure fiscal accountability using unique budget ID for each approved

project

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 Project Development

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 Project Selection and Approval
 Six Benefit Areas
 Includes administrative priorities
and program emphasis on DM

 Project’s benefit-to-cost ratio is

used to prioritize projects with
the greatest benefit to the
agency’s mission.
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 Approved Projects
GAOA LRF project lists are funded in each year’s appropriations act
and reflected in the Net Available.

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 Project Tracking

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 Catawba Falls

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 Catawba Falls

• This project will improve visitor access to lower Catawba Falls

by doing trail maintenance, repairing stairs, elevating
boardwalks, and constructing viewing platforms. 
• Project Status: WORK IN PROG
Total Approved GAOA Funds for this Project: $722,826
Transportation Dollars: $
Non Transportation Dollars: $722,826
Estimated Deferred Maintenance Addressed Upon Project
Completion: $599,144
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 POLL

True or False?
GAOA LRF Funds may be used
on projects without prior
approval?
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 POLL

False

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 G&A Processes

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 Standard 1580 Process

 GAOA LRF funded agreements may receive a greater level of

scrutiny.
 GMSs must select “deferred maintenance” for the project code in
Natural Resource Manager (NRM) under “program category” for
GAOA agreements.
 Do not exceed 5 years.

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 Instruments

 GAOA did not establish any new authorities, so existing G&A

authorities, agreement types, and procedures should be used to
execute these projects.
 The authority used must be appropriate for the type of work
performed on the project.
 Authorities with a primary purpose of restoration, such as
Good Neighbor and Stewardship authorities, likely won’t be used.

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 Agreement Naming

 Titles should not include any shorthand codes, partner names, or

abbreviations and must be easily understood by the public as
required by the DATA Act (Pub. L. 113-101).
 Except in exigent circumstances, the project name from
Infra Projects Module found on the WO GAOA Strike Team
SharePoint should used for the agreement title. Any additional
information to differentiate separate agreements on the project
may be added.
Project ID Project/Activity Title
0AB HOONAH ROAD SURFACING AND WUKUKLOOK RECREATION ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS

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 Master/SPA

 New master agreements may be established for GAOA LRF awards (

FSH 1509.11 Chapter 10 (13.7)).
 Existing master agreements can also be used to write a new
Supplemental Project Agreement (SPA), if the purpose of that
Master meets the scope and intent of the GAOA LRF funded SPA.
o The actual words deferred maintenance does not need to be
stated in the existing Master agreement to establish a new SPA to
the Master agreement.

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 Multiple Projects/Partners

 Multiple partners may work on one Forest Service Defined Project.

 One partner may accomplish multiple projects.
 Individual agreements must be established for each prime partner.
 Pass through funds are allowed.

CCC recreation site rehabilitation on the Cherokee NF

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 Modifications

• Modification of GAOA LRF agreements should follow

FSH 1509.11 Chapter 10 (15.8).
• Modifications of existing GAOA LRF agreements are allowed to add
additional GAOA LRF Job codes.
• Modifications of existing GAOA LRF agreement are not allowed to
add additional CFDAs.

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 Inquiries/Deviations

 The Policy Branch, GAOA Policy Analyst addresses questions,

inquiries, and deviations to FS directives on GAOA LRF agreements
in coordination with Regional G&A Directors.
 Policy requests regarding need for official WO OG&A Policy Branch
guidance (Inquiries), conflicting policy, and deviations should be
submitted to the WO OG&A Policy inbox at
SM.FS.wo_ga_policy@usda.gov.

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 Reporting Requirements

 The GMS must include quarterly performance and financial

reporting provisions in all GAOA partnership agreements.
 The SF-425 form shall be used to submit financial reports except for
Interagency Agreements (IAs).
o IAs require quarterly financial and performance reporting but
not require a SF-425 be used.

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 Reporting Requirements

 Federal partners may submit their financial reporting form in a

format of their choosing, if it provides the required financial
information:
 The total amount invoiced through the applicable federal billing system.
 The total Forest Service obligation (including all modifications).
 The outstanding ULO amount.

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 POLL

True or False?
Existing GAOA LRF agreements
may be modified to add
additional GAOA LRF job
codes?
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 POLL

True

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 Fiscal

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 Accounting Structure

 All GAOA LRF agreements will be identified using the GAOA CFDA
number, 10.712.
 The Treasury Account Symbol (TAS) symbol is 12X5716 for the
National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
 All GAOA LRF agreements shall use account codes with fund code,
GPPR, and functional areas; GPNT, GPPA, GPTP.

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 Accounting Structure

 The GAOA requires the Forest Service to report final allocations,

obligations, and expenditures of LRF funds to Congress.
 To do this, each LRF project (transportation or non-transportation)
as well as program administration funding by Region/Station and
donations is assigned a unique project ID for tracking and
monitoring expenditures.
 The job code structure uses these project IDs, allowing the Forest
Service to officially document LRF spending in FMMI as required by
the Act.

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 Accounting Structure
pl e
a m
Ex GAOA LRF
GAOA LRF
Functional
Area (3 Digit) Project ID Fiscal Year (2 GAOA LRF Job
(GPN, GPP, (3 Digit Digit) Code
alphanum.)
GPT)

Project ID Project/Activity Title Job Code

0AD Tongass Docks and Marine Infrastructure Repairs GPN0AD21

• Some projects require capitalized job codes which have a slightly different structure than this example.
• For details, refer the most recent Accounting Structure Guide at the Budget and Finance Customer Portal.

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 Accounting Structure
TAS Fund Code Functional Area Functional Area Description Budget Periods

12X5716 FS0000GPPR FS0199GPNT FS GAOA NON-TRANSPRT REST 21XX,

22XX,
23XX

12X5716 FS0000GPPR FS0199GPPA FS GAOA PROGRAM ADMIN 21XX,

22XX,
23XX

12X5716 FS0000GPPR FS0199GPTP FS GAOA TRANSPORT RESTOR 21XX,

22XX,
23XX

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 Combining GAOA Job Codes

 Job codes containing the three functional areas/program codes

above (GPNT/GPPA/GPTP) may be combined on one agreement. No
other fund code or functional area/program shall be used on a
GAOA LRF agreement.
 Multiple fiscal years may be on one agreement
 Multiple GAOA LRF project IDs may be on one agreement.

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 Multiple CFDAs

• The GAOA LRF CFDA (10.712) may be used on one agreement with
other CFDAs beginning March 19th, 2023.
 Multiple CFDAs may only be on new agreements executed after
March 19, 2023.
 When mixing GAOA LRF project job codes and other appropriated
funds on a single agreement, NRM enhancement guidelines  must
be followed.

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 Match

 Match requirements should follow guidance provided by the

Cross-Deputy Partnership Agreements Policy Team.
 Partners currently implementing an agreement or agreements can
request modification, if needed, to meet the intent of “
Match and Substantial Cash Contributions Policy Changes”.
 GAOA does not provide any waiver or reduction for partner
matching or cost-share requirements.

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 Indirect Costs

• GAOA does not provide any waiver or reduction for indirect cost rate
requirements. More information on indirect cost rate requirements
can be found in the FSH chapter associated with the authority and
instrument being used.

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 POLL

True or False?
Existing GAOA LRF agreements
may be modified to add
additional CFDAs?
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 POLL

False

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 GAOA LRF G&A Resources

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 WO OG&A GAOA LRF Focus Area Page

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 GAOA LRF Program

GAOA LRF SharePoint Home Page GAOA LRF Implementation Guide

https://usdagcc.sharepoint.com/sites/ https://usdagcc.sharepoint.com/sites/fs-wo-g
fs-wo-gaoadmng aoadmng/SitePages/GAOA-LRF-Implementatio
n-Guide.aspx

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 The Future of GAOA LRF

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 Key Performance Indicators

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 Up Next

 FY25 Call for projects – Due April 24th, 2023

 The agency’s desired end state is for Congress to reauthorize GAOA
funding beyond 2025
 Required GAO audit has started

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 Questions?

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 Appendix

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 Shortcut for Project Details
• Another way to access real-time project data from IPM is through FS’
public data site:
• Go to USFS Geospatial Data Discovery Click
• Scroll down and click GAOA Project Summary (Feature Layer)
• Click the button to download the file

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