The National Learning Center for Private Forest and Range Landowners ispleased to announce that we are now requesting proposals for thedevelopment of new learning modules (See the attached announcement).Please take a moment to distribute this announcement to list serves,organizations, and individuals where it might be of interest.

Funding opportunity description
The National Learning Center (NLC) for Private Forest and Range Landowners is led by an advisory committee representing USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES), extension forest and range faculty, and other stakeholders.  It provides high-quality web-based educational resources to private forest and range landowners and materials for education/outreach and extension personnel.  The objective of the web-based learning center is to engage individuals in thoughtful management and stewardship of natural resources on private lands across the nation.  Visitors to forestandrange.org have a wide variety of highly interactive, self-directed learning modules that they can explore to gain valuable insights and technical assistance in the management of forests and rangelands.  Educators will find resources they can adapt to enrich their local programming efforts.

The NLC for Private Forest and Range Landowners is currently soliciting proposals for the development of modules that address topics related to forest, wildlife, and range management and encourages those focusing on the following topics:

Wildlife Habitat—modules in this area could take one of two approaches: 1) for landowners whose primary objective in owning forest and/or rangeland is to create and maintain wildlife habitats on their properties or 2) for landowners whose primary objective is timber or forage production, but want to learn how management prescriptions can be used to benefit wildlife habitat.  Either approach to this module should provide landowners specific, how-to technical information that will help them to manage forests and rangelands for wildlife.

Rangeland Drought—modules in this category will help landowners to understand the factors that contribute to the occurrences of drought, how they can prepare for it, and what they can do to recover rangelands from drought.

Rangeland Watersheds—modules in this category need to address the roles that rangeland watersheds play on the landscape scale.  These modules may help landowners to better understand rangeland watersheds, how they function, how their management actions influence water availability in the landscape, and how they can contribute to watershed protection.  Users who complete this module should then have tools to improve water management in their range operations.

Forest and Rangeland Amenities—modules in this area may help landowners who are interested in managing their properties for recreational activities—fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing etc., for those interested in managing their properties for their scenic and aesthetic values, and for those who want to enhance biodiversity.  Users of this module should be able to maintain, enhance, and protect the forest and range amenities present on their land.

While these topic areas described above are of special interest for module development, the web-based learning center will also consider proposals addressing other areas in the scope of private forest, range and wildlife management.  Please refer to the website forestandrange.org to learn more about the modules currently available.

Award information—Successful proposals by a single institution or those that address a topic regional in scope may be awarded up to $15,000 for a one-year contract.  Successful proposals for modules produced by a collaboration of multiple institutions and/or address topics that are national in scope may be awarded up to $25,000.

Eligibility information—Proposals must be submitted by a Land Grant University (1862, 1890, or 1994) and funds will be made available by contract only to Land Grant Universities.  Other organizations may collaborate on the project.  Module development teams need to include a Principal Investigator from a Land Grant University and additional members that bring knowledge and expertise in the module subject area, technical expertise in designing educational materials for web-based learning, and skills in web design.  Team members may come from any academic institution, state or federal agency or non-governmental organization.

Proposal and Submission Information—Note: the following is a general overview—please visit www.forestandrange.org to learn more about the proposal process. 

Proposals should include the following information:

• Module Title
• Name and contact information of PI
• Name and contact information of all team members
• Identification of the need for this module
• Learning Objectives and Process—defines module learning objectives, describes how the module will deliver information and the learning process of the module.  Describes how the module will address ADEC Guiding Principles for Distance Teaching and Learning:
http://www.adec.edu/admin/papers/distance-teaching_principles.html
• Content outline—Explains what content will be included in the module.  This section should clearly demonstrate how the module will be regional or national in scope
• Web Utilization—Highlights how web resources will be used to create an interactive module.
• Resources for Extension Personnel—Explains what programming materials related to the module subject area (power points, fact sheets, handouts, etc.) will be created.
• Budget—Awards can be used only for salary, fringe benefits, non-expendable equipment, materials, travel, and computer costs.  Indirect costs may not be included.
• Maintenance—Develop a plan to keep the module content current and functioning.
• Timeline—Awards are for one year.  Demonstrate that the proposed module can be developed in that time frame.
 
Proposals may not exceed 6 pages.  All proposals shall be submitted electronically in either pdf., rtf. or doc. formats to kzophy@utk.edu.  A signed original and one copy must also be submitted to the address below.  PI’s and the team member providing technical/web design expertise from each team whose proposals are funded will be required to attend a module development workshop in Knoxville, TN at the expense of the NLC for Private Forest and Range Landowners.

RFP announced:    Jan 15, 2007
Proposals due:   March 15, 2007 (midnight, eastern time)
Notification of decision: May 1, 2007
Developer’s workshop: TBA – approximately June or July, 2007

Contact Information:
Kelley Zophy
Coordinator
National Learning Center for Private Forest and Range Landowners
2431 Joe Johnson Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37996-4563
Phone: (865) 974-2946
Email: kzophy@utk.edu