HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 56841 USDA NRCS-ADS-093
U.S. Department of Agriculture CSC No. 56841
Natural Resources Conservation Service
NOTICE OF GRANT AND AGREEMENT AWARD
1. Award Identifying Number 2. Amendment Number 3. Award /Project Period 4. Type of award instrument:
NR213A750001C036 date of final signature- Cooperative Agreement
09/30/2023
5. Agency(Name and Address) 6. Recipient Organization (Name and Address)
FORT WORTH, CITY OF
USDA, NRCS Office of the Associate Chief for Conservation 200 TEXAS ST
1400 Independence Avenue SW FORT WORTH TX 76102-6314
Washington, DC 20250
UEI Number/ DUNS Number: ENS6MKS1ZL18/073170458
EIN:
7. NRCS Program Contact 8. NRCS Administrative 9. Recipient Program 10. Recipient Administrative
Contact Contact Contact
Name: Annie Ceccarini Name: Tam-Thao Nguyen Name: Flavia Paulino Name: Flavia Paulino
Phone: (202) 577-7462 Phone: (202) 772-9117 Phone: 817-392-7220 Phone: 817-392-7220
Email: annie.ceccarini@usda. Email: Tam-Thao. Email: flavia. Email: flavia.
gov Nguyen@usda.gov paulino@fortworthtexas.gov paulino@fortworthtexas.gov
11. CFDA 12. Authority 13. Type of Action 14. Program Director
10.935 7 USC 6923 New Agreement Name: Flavia Paulino
Phone: 817-392-7220
Email: flavia.
paulino@fortworthtexas.gov
15. Project Title/Description: Expansion of the City of Fort Worth Residential Food Scraps Composting Pilot Program, and
making compost more accessible to agricultural producers and community gardens
16. Entity Type: C = City or township Government
17. Select Funding Type
Select funding type: Federal Non-Federal
Original funds total $90,000.00 $30,000.00
Additional funds total $0.00 $0.00
Grand total $90,000.00 $30,000.00
18. Approved Budget OFFICIAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX
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Personnel $0.00 Fringe Benefits $0.00
Travel $0.00 Equipment $0.00
Supplies $0.00 Contractual $0.00
Construction $0.00 Other $90,000.00
Total Direct Cost $90,000.00 Total Indirect Cost $0.00
Total Non-Federal Funds $30,000.00
Total Federal Funds Awarded $90,000.00
Total Approved Budget $120,000.00
This agreement is subject to applicable USDA NRCS statutory provisions and Financial Assistance Regulations. In accepting this
award or amendment and any payments made pursuant thereto, the undersigned represents that he or she is duly authorized to
act on behalf of the awardee organization, agrees that the award is subject to the applicable provisions of this agreement (and all
attachments), and agrees that acceptance of any payments constitutes an agreement by the payee that the amounts, if any,
found by NRCS to have been overpaid, will be refunded or credited in full to NRCS.
Name and Title of Authorized WieU
Digitally signed
Government Representative I S by LOUIS APB Date
Louis Aspey Date: 2021 .09.2
Associate Chief ASPEY
11 :27:33 04'00'
Name and Title of Authorized
Recipient Representative Signature Date
Flavia Paulino 779V/1� �919/4ID Dec 14 2021
Material Management FLavia Paulino(Dec 14,202114:42 CST)
Marketing Anal st
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA)prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin,
age, disability, and where applicable,sex, marital status,familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political
beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply
to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.)should contact USDA's TARGET Center at(202)720-2600 (voice and TDD).To file a complaint of discrimination write to
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800)795-3272 (voice)or(202)
720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
The above statements are made in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 522a).
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CITY OF FORT WORTH
Valerie Washingl on(Dec 6,202112:14 CST)
Valerie Washington
Assistant City Manager
APPROVAL RECOMMENDED:
CorkMcA&kt"-^
Chris McAllister(Dec 2,202113:47 CST)
Chris McAllister
Acting Assistant Director, Code Compliance Department
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND LEGALITY:
Christc�R. `Opez-RevnOlds
Christa R.Lopez-Reynolds(Dec 6,202112:04 CST)
Christa Lopez-Reynolds
Senior Assistant City Attorney
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Contract Authorization:
M&C:
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE MANAGER:
By signing, I acknowledge that I am the person responsible
for the monitoring and administration of this contract, including
ensuring all performance and reporting requirements.
Tay/�? F991l110
Flavia Paulino(Dec 1,202116:04 CST)
Flavia Paulino
Material Management Marketing Analyst— Solid Waste Division
OFFICIAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX
Statement of Work
Purpose
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)solicitated applications in
fiscal year(FY) 2021 under the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP)for Funding Opportunity
Number: USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CCFWR-21-NOFO0001 112 from local and Tribal governments to host a Community
Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) pilot project. The authorizing statutes and regulations for this opportunity
are under section 12302 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334), (7 USC 6923). The primary
goal of CCFWR is to assist local governments with projects that develop and test strategies for planning and
implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. CCFWR specifically provides assistance through
a cooperative agreement to municipalities, counties, local and Tribal governments, or city planners to develop and test
strategies for planning and implementation that will 1)generate compost; 2) increase access to compost for agricultural
producers; 3) reduce reliance on, and limit the use of, fertilizer; 4) improve soil quality; 5) encourage waste management
and permaculture business development; 6) increase rainwater absorption; 7) reduce municipal food waste; and 8)divert
food waste from landfills.
The City of Fort Worth Council unanimously adopted the new 2017-2037 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan
(CSWMP)that includes a mid-to-long-term implementation action to evaluate residential food waste collection. The city's
landfill airspace is a finite commodity, and at the present rate of growth and waste generation, the estimated lifespan of
the city's landfill is approximately 20 years. The comprehensive plan estimated that if each household had reduced its
weekly food waste generation by just 3 pounds from FY 14-15 levels, a 5% reduction in waste would be realized, which
is significant given the city's present circumstances.
The CCFWR Pilot Project entitled "Expansion of the City of Fort Worth Residential Food Scraps Composting Pilot
Program and making compost more accessible to agricultural producers and community gardens"will support the
expansion of the City of Fort Worth Residential Food Scraps Composting Pilot Program, which was launched in April
2019 with a grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the North Central Texas Council of
Governments (NCTCOG). Due to budget restrictions in recent years, the City has been unable to fund an expansion of
the pilot program.
Through this subscription-only compost pilot program, Fort Worth citizens drop-off food waste at designated collection
sites. Compost collection carts are locked to help prevent contamination or illegal dumping. Participants are given a
starter kit with containers, the lock combination, and a welcome letter with home set-up tips and FAQs, as well as a
refrigerator magnet and sticker displaying the materials that are accepted or not accepted through the program.
Residents will pay a nominal one-time subscription fee of$20 to ensure there is buy-in from participants and reduced
contamination. This project is the first of its kind for the north Texas region and serves as a demonstration project for
other cities interested in diverting more organics.
Objectives
Objective 1: To expand the program's infrastructure such as compost collection carts, bins, cart locks, starter kit
containers (kitchen countertop pails and buckets for transporting food waste), signage, education and outreach/
marketing materials, allowing the City to reach more residents by 1)adding new collection sites and 2) providing starter
kits to new subscribers, increasing participation numbers and consequently increasing the tonnage of food waste
collected yearly and composted through the program.
Objective 2: To expand the program beyond the residential realm, making compost more accessible to agricultural
producers and community gardens by connecting producers of food waste and end users of the organic material.
The primary goal of this project is to double the number of program subscribers (from the current 1,500 to 3,000
households)within the first year of the grant-funded expansion, and triple the number of subscribers (for a total of 4,500
enrolled households) by the second year of usage of the federal funds
The City of Fort Worth will partner with Cowboy Compost, a local organics compost hauler.
The City of Forth Worth will partner the City's Parks and Recreation Department to find collection sites where compost
carts could be placed and to help spread the word in the community
Budget Narrative
The official budget described in this Budget Narrative will be considered the total budget as last approved by the Federal
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awarding agency for this award.
Amounts included in this budget narrative are estimates. Reimbursement or advance liquidations will be based on actual
expenditures, not to exceed the amount obligated.
Total project budget is $ 120,000.00, which includes the total Federal share of$ 90,000.00 and the recipient's match
amount in the total of$ 30,000.00. Advance is authorized for 30 days of expenses, when needed.
PERSONNEL:
Total Cost: $0.00 (Federal Share $0.00 + Recipient Share: $0.00)
FRINGE BENEFITS:
Total Cost: $0.00 (Federal Share $ 0.00 + Recipient Share: $ 0.00)
TRAVEL:
Total Cost: $0.00 (Federal Share $0.00 + Recipient Share: $0.00)
EQUIPMENT:
Total Cost: $0.00 (Federal Share $0.00 + Recipient Share: $0.00)
SUPPLIES:
Total Cost: $85,100.00 (Federal Share $85,100.00 + Recipient Share: $0.00)
Supplies to increase the number of waste collection sites in the City totaling $2,450.00
Compost carts 30 carts x$55 (est. unit cost) _ $1,650
Brass combo locks 50 locks x$10 (est. unit cost) _ $ 500
7-ft cable for carts 10 cables x$13 (est. unit cost) _ $ 130
Cart stickers 50 stickers x$ 3.40 (est. unit cost) _ $ 170
Multiple compost carts are placed at each food waste collection site to meet demand estimated for the area.
Combination locks are used on carts to prevent contamination (only program subscribers have the code for the locks and
can open them at any of the public sites). Lock quantity requested provides for original locks for each compost cart, as
well as extra locks to replace the ones that become defective due to exposure to weather. Cables are used to rope
compost carts together at each site (and also use combination locks), anchoring the carts to prevent theft. All-weather
stickers are placed on each cart with quick info on the program and a QR code, so the public at large can be directed to
the program's web page to sign up.
Supplies needed to provide compost starter kits to new subscribers totaling $82,650.00
1 gal. kitchen pail 3,000 pails x$6.65 (est. unit cost) _ $19,950
5 gal. green buckets 3,150 buckets x$18 (est. unit cost) _ $56,700
Refrigerator magnets 3,000 magnets x$0.43 (est. unit cost) _ $ 1,300
Decals 2,000 decals x$1.60 (est. unit cost) _ $ 3,200
FAQ sheets 3,000 sheets x$0.50 (est. unit cost) _ $ 1,500
Each new compost program subscriber receives a starter kit with one each of the above supplies. The one-gallon kitchen
pail makes it easy to collect food waste at the source in the home. The new kitchen pail we're sourcing is made of 100%
recyclable materials. The five-gallon green buckets with lids that lock in place are used to store the food waste as kitchen
pail fills up, and also to transport the food waste to the collection site. The starter kit also provides residents with a
magnet for the refrigerator and a decal, both bilingual (English/Spanish), showing (through images and text) item that are
accepted/composted through the program, and items that are not accepted, keeping the information at easy reach of
participants and reducing contamination at the home level. The (also bilingual) FAQ (frequently asked questions)sheet
provides subscribers with additional information on composting, program logistics, and at-home set up tips.
CONTRACTUAL:
Total Cost: $30,000.00 (Federal Share $ 0.00 + Recipient Share: $30,000.00)
The City of Fort Worth Solid Waste Division will provide approximately$30,000 in matching funds within the two-year
period, which would cover the costs associated with hauling the additional food waste material to the composting facility.
A contract with local organics hauler Cowboy Compost has been in place since 2019, and is renewed yearly. The
contract provides for the hauling of the food waste dropped by program participants at each of our collection sites.
Cowboy Compost hauls materials weekly (frequency of collections varies per collection site and season of the year)from
each of our 14 collection sites. Filled (even if partially) compost carts are hauled away and replaced with empty ones.
Materials are weighed and contamination is sorted out and weighed by hauler before transporting material to commercial
compost facility. Although number of collection carts and frequency of collections at each location may vary, the average
yearly cost of hauling per site is approximately$3,333.33. By funding the hauling of the food waste at the new collection
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sites established with a era funds, the estimated breakdown of the cost matching Will a as follows:
Phase 1 hauling of food waste (3 new sites): 3 x$3,333.33-$ 10,000
Phase 2 hauling of food waste (6 new sites): 6 x$3,333.33-$ 20,000
CONTRUCTION:
Total Cost: $0.00 (Federal Share $0.00 + Recipient Share: $0.00)
OTHER:
Total Cost: $4,900.00 (Federal Share$4,900.00 + Recipient Share: $0.00)
Marketing and educational materials used to increase participation numbers and consequently increasing the tonnage of
food waste collected yearly and composted through the program totaling $4,900.00
Postcards 10,000 x$0.13 (est. unit cost) _ $1,300
Facebook ads 10 ads x$200 (est. unit cost) _ $2,000
Digital or print ads 8 ads x$400 (est. unit cost) _ $1,600
INDIRECT COST:
Total Cost: $0.00 (Federal Share $0.00 + Recipient Share: $0.00)
PROGRAM INCOME:
In order to ensure that there is buy-in from participants and consequent reduced contamination of the organic material,
residents will pay a nominal one-time subscription fee of$20 to participate in the CCFWR Pilot Program.
Since it is the primary goal of this project to double the number of program subscribers (from the current 1,500 to 3,000
households)within the first year of the grant-funded expansion, and triple the number of subscribers (for a total of 4,500
enrolled households) by the second year of usage of the federal funds, there will be an expected $60,000.00 in program
income - $30,000.00 at the end of the first year of the expansion, and additional $30,000.00 at the end of the second
year.
Making use of the projected program income, the CCFWR Pilot Project will expand the program beyond the residential
realm, thus advancing the second goal of the program, i.e., making compost more accessible to local small agricultural
producers and community gardens.
The projected program income will be used primarily to buy 5-gallon buckets; composting bins, and other composting
equipment, on an as-needed basis—which may help the local small agricultural producers and community gardens— in
particular in underserved areas of the city—to process the composting materials and produce high quality compost.
Program income which are left unused at the end of the year will be used to buy and stockpile 5-gallon buckets (these
being the primary containers used by coffee shops and other food scrap producers to store and transport coffee grounds
and other organic materials to the local small farms and community gardens). All the composting containers and
equipment bought with program income will be made available free of charge to both food scrap generators and
processors.
The program income from the onetime fee will as well further address and advance at least the following six objectives
supported by the CCFWR:
• Generate composted materials;
• Increase access of agricultural producers to composited material;
• Reduce reliance on, and limit the use of, fertilizer;
• Improve soil quality;
• Reduce municipal food waste; and
• Divert food waste from landfills.
If this award generates program income, the recipient must reinvest it into the project and report the amount, source, and
intended use in its next performance report. Use of program income must comply with the cost principles in 2 CFR Part
200, Subpart E
Responsibilities of the Parties:
If inconsistencies arise between the language in this Statement of Work(SOW)and the General Terms and Conditions
attached to the agreement, the language in this SOW takes precedence.
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NRCS will:
1) Connect the CCFWR pilot project team(s)with other USDA agencies such as, and not limited to, the Economic
Research Service (ERS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), and
Federal partners like the United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)to collaborate on project activities and
outcomes that contribute to the U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 goal.
2) Coordinate and convene the CCFWR pilot project team(s)and other Federal government, regional, institution, state,
and local experts to share information and strategies related to CCFWR with the goal of enhancing the locally driven
process to better address nationally and regionally important composting and food waste reduction goals that transcend
localities.
3) Gather the methods, results, and benefits derived from the project to evaluate and disseminate different solutions for
increasing access to compost and reducing municipal food waste across the United States.
4) Provide advisory and administrative support during the project and maintain constant communication with partner,
review progress and financial report and provide feedback to ensure the product follows USDA standards.
5) Provide guidance and procedures related to NRCS Conservation and Business Programs.
6) Review and editing rights on all material produced under this agreement to ensure it complies with USDA standards
and regulations before publishing.
7) Participate in project committee meetings to aid and guidance for the purpose of the workshops, educational activities,
and other activities identified in this agreement.
8) Conduct ad-hoc meetings (via electronic, phone or in-person field visit)to discuss the progress of the agreement.
Recipient will:
1) Follow methodology in the project narrative submitted as part of recipient's application to NFO USDA-NRCS-NHQ-
CCFWR-21-NOF00001112, incorporated herein by reference
2) Collaborate with multiple partners, such as public or private, nonprofit or for-profit entities, academic institutions
(including minority-serving colleges and universities), and/or other appropriate professionals, community-based
organizations, and local government entities.
3)Add another 6 new collection sites to currently underserved areas of the city, making it convenient for new subscribers
to participate in the City of Forth Worth program.
4)Work in close coordination with USDA-NRCS to share all publish material developed to ensure it complies with USDA
standards and regulations before publishing. Review available material from the USDA in regard of the USDA general
style and message layouts and follow the USDA civil right policy in accordance with USDA Departmental Regulation
4300-3, Equal Opportunity (EO) Public Notification Policy, and Section 7, in which all will comply with the usage of the
USDA Non-discrimination Statement.
5) Ensure the exercise care so that sensitive, confidential or private information is not inadvertently disclosed to families,
friends, or others who have no need to know and keep all private information in secure areas when not in use during
office hours.
a. Example of Private Data: Social Security Number(SSN); tax identification (ID) number; employee national Finance
Center ID; account numbers; farm, tract, or common land unit numbers.
b. Example of Sensitive Data: Name, address, or other geographic indicators; e-mail address; phone number; race,
gender, ethnicity, disability and birth date.
6) Participate in efforts under this agreement solely as representatives of City of Fort Worth. They will not participate as
directors, officers, employees, or otherwise serve or hold themselves out as representatives of FPAC, USDA, NRCS or
any member thereof. They shall not assist FPAC, USDA, NRCS or any member thereof with efforts to lobby Congress
or to raise money through fundraising efforts. The recipient's employees shall report to their immediate supervisor any
negotiations with FPAC, USDA, NRCS or any member thereof, concerning future employment and shall refrain from
participation in efforts regarding such party until approved by the Signatory Official.
7) Conduct all activities and program provision under this agreement in compliance with all applicable federal civil right
laws, rules, regulations and policies.
8) Ensure no member of or delegate to Congress or Resident Commissioner shall be admitted to any share or part of
this agreement or to any benefit that may arise there from; but this provision is not to be construed to extend to this
agreement if made with a corporation for its general benefit.
Submit performance reports on a annual basis to the ezFedGrants system or the Farm Production and Conservation
(FPAC) Grants and Agreements Division staff via email to: FPAC.BC.GAD@usda.gov. Reports are due 30 calendar
days after the reporting period.
Submit SF425 Financial Reports on a annual basis to the ezFedGrants system or the Farm Production and Conservation
(FPAC) Grants and Agreements Division via email to: FPAC.BC.GAD@usda.gov. Reports are due 30 calendar days
after the reporting period.
Submit payment requests to the ezFedGrants system or the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Grants and
Agreements Division via email to: FPAC.BC.GAD@usda.gov on a quarterly basis. Refer to the General Terms and
Conditions for more information regarding payment requests.
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Expected Accomplishments and Deliverables
Expected Measurable Outcomes include:
1. Increase the number of new residential subscribers
Goal is an average of 125 new households subscribed per month, for a total of 1,500 new program subscribers by the
end of the first year(phase 1: 2022)and another 1,500 new program subscribers by the end of the second year(phase
2: 2023).
2. Increase the total pounds of food waste collected
Goal is an increase of 50% in total pounds of food waste collected (from base monthly average of 11,000), for a revised
monthly average of 16,500 lbs. by the end of the first year(phase one: FY 2021-022), and an increase of 70% in total
pounds collected (from base monthly average of 11,000), for a revised monthly average of 24,220 lbs. by the end of the
second year(phase two: FY 2022-2023).
3. Increase number of new commercial accounts or containers donated
Goal is to add an average of 5 new organic waste producers or secure diversion of an average of 10 new 5-gallon
buckets of commercial food waste per month for the duration of the grant timing (24 months).
4. Add 6 new collection sites to increase convenience of food waste drop-offs in certain areas of the city from 14
collection sites to a total of 21 collection sites, primarily to the north, northeast and southeast areas of the city.
Resources Required
NRCS will:
1) Participate in the coordination for technical assistant and collaborate with recipient.
2)Assign a Alternate Contact in charge of providing detailed information and technical assistance necessary to ensure
the implementation of this agreement.
Alternate Contact
Joseph Heller
joseph.heller@usda.gov
202 381-6283
Recipient will:
1) Support the expansion of the City of Fort Worth Residential Food Scraps Composting Pilot Program, continuing to
challenge residents to rethink their food purchasing practices and encouraging residents to reduce, reuse, and compost.
2) Collaborate with:
Cowboy Compost and the City's Parks and Recreation Department to expand the City of Fort Worth Residential Food
Scraps Composting Pilot Program.
3) Provide the project with contractor support to haul compost as non-Federal resources
4) Follow the evaluation plan as established in the project narrative.
Milestones
The CCFWR pilot project is two years in duration. Project activities, objectives and outcomes should be completed within
the 24-month time frame. 50% of work completed in year 1 by September 30, 2022 & 100% of work completed in year 2
by September 30, 2023.
The timeline and specific tasks to implement these components are detailed in the attached Project Narrative.
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GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please reference the below link(s)for the General Terms and Conditions pertaining to this award:
https://www.fpacbc.usda.gov/about/grants-and-agreements/award-terms-and-conditions/index.htmI
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