WASHINGTON, DC—The Enterprise Program recently began accepting proposals from agency partners for projects to be accomplished in FY2023. Forest Service units nationwide are encouraged to visit Enterprise’s project request site and consider submitting a proposal for work that supports agency priorities. 

While initial project evaluation and selection will begin June 10, work intake will continue year-round. This continuous intake model, which was developed in response to partner feedback, will enhance Enterprise’s ability to be responsive to emerging priority work by reserving some capacity throughout the year to support it. Large projects will be selected at specific points each fiscal year, but continuous intake will ensure Enterprise remains flexible to meet agency needs.

Another improvement to Enterprise’s work intake process is that projects now require sponsor approval to be submitted for evaluation. Regional foresters, station directors and Washington Office directors will designate their own sponsors. This approval will validate leadership support of the project.

The Enterprise Program is a flexible and reliable agency unit that provides expertise and fills capacity needs across the Forest Service. Each year, Enterprise collaborates with regions, stations and deputy areas to evaluate and prioritize projects that best support the agency. In FY2022, more than 800 projects were submitted by Forest Service units for evaluation, which far exceeded available Enterprise capacity. Recognizing this limited capacity and in preparation for FY2023, Enterprise worked with key partners, including regional foresters, to enhance the efficiency of the work intake process. The new intake process, which began May 9, is the result of those efforts.

For additional information, please contact Chris Feutrier, Enterprise Director, at 406-361-9417 or chris.feutrier@usda.gov. Reference material, detailed timeframes and the link for submitting project requests are available on Enterprise’s project request site.