MANUALS AND HANDBOOKS
The Forest Service's manuals and handbooks include the agency's policies, practices, and procedures. Both the manuals and handbooks provide national level, regional level and forest specific guidance. New or revised continuing direction is issued by amendment; short-term direction is issued by interim directive; and direction supplementing that issued by an external or higher level is issued by supplement.
-
The Forest Service Manual (FSM) contains legal authorities, objectives, policies, responsibilities, instructions, and guidance needed on a continuing basis by Forest Service employees.
-
Forest Service Handbooks (FSH) are the principal source of specialized guidance and instruction for carrying out the direction issued in the FSM.
There are several parts of internal directives that shape and guide how we work with partners and in collaboration with the public and highlight the authorities underwhich we can shape these relationships. These directives include:
PARTNERSHIP MECHANISMS
Below are three formal ways in which the Forest Service can collaborate and partner with another entity:
Grants & Agreements.
The Forest Service uses many different types of grants and agreements to document work with others. Each of these instruments is available to the Forest Service under a legal authority from Congress, and each comes with its own set of requirements. The appropriate instrument depends primarily on what the partnership will accomplish, who will benefit, and who is providing funding.
-
Grants and Agreements Desk Guide
-
NFS Program Managers Guide (PDF) (This guide is located on the FS intranet and only accessible to FS employees.)
-
Partnership Guide (PDF). This Partnership Guide, produced by the Forest Service and the NFF, is a tool to help Forest Service employees, experienced partners, and first-time or potential partners work together more effectively and efficiently. The guide answers common questions about the agency’s policies and procedures, helps partnerships anticipate potential hurdles, and provides contacts and other resources to help users find more specific guidance.
-
Decision Tree (PDF)
-
Grants and Agreement Specialists
Service First Authorities.
Service First is a way of forming partnerships across agency boundaries to deal with the land in an integrated way and provide quality service to our publics.The Goals of Service First:Improved customer serviceIncreased operational efficiency, andImproved stewardship of the land. For more details, please visit the FS Resource Page on Service First.
Contracts.
Contracts can offer unique opportunities to build the skills and capacity of local organizations and tribes while accomplishing important conservation work on the ground. They also help improve the Forest Service’s involvement in local economies and communities. Contracts are used to procure goods and services and are not legally defined as partnerships.
-
Working with the FS (Overview and Guidance on contracts with the FS)
-
Simplified Acquisition Over $25,000 but Under $100,000 – If a determination is made that no small businesses can offer the particular good or service needed, then competitive bidding is open to everyone. An announcement has to be made in Federal Business Opportunities, also known as FedBizOps.
-
General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule – There are several GSA schedules for consulting services for which nonprofits or community-based organizations might qualify. A specific GSA schedule that may lend itself to these types of organizations is Federal Supply Schedule 874, Management, Organizational, and Business Improvement Services. More information is available at the GSA website.
|
