EMS TRANSMISSION 07/19/2006

Instruction Memorandum No. 2006-196

Expires: 09/30/2007                                                                                    

 

To:                 ADs, SDs, and CDs

 

From:             Assistant Director, Business and Fiscal Resources

                                                                                

Subject:         Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Goals for Biomass Utilization and Buying Biomass Products

 

Program Area: Forests and Woodlands Management, Fuels Management, Rangeland Management and Acquisition.

 

Purpose:  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) establishes goals for buying bio-based products and biomass utilization.

 

Policy/Action: The BLM will implement ongoing procurement procedures for buying bio-based products to accomplish the short- and long-term goals in accordance with the Biomass Utilization Strategy. The procurement procedures are working documents and will be modified as conditions change and new opportunities arise. 

 

1)      Currently, all wooden signs up to 12 by 18 inches are to be made using biomass products. The BLM will convert all wooden signs over to biomass as the necessary sizes become available from its vendors. 

 

2)      The BLM has a goal of using woody biomass for heat in two of its owned facilities.

 

3)   In a March 16, 2006, notice in the Federal Register (70 FR 13686), the United States Department of Agriculture finalized the list of the first six bio-based items that have Federal purchasing preference under Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. These items are mobile equipment hydraulic fluids, penetrating lubricants, diesel fuel additives, roof coatings, bedding, bed linens, towels, and water tank coatings. The BLM will give preference to these bio-based items whenever possible when making purchases exceeding $10,000. For more information on bio-based products, visit 

      http://www.biobased.oce.usda.gov/Catalog/catalog1.cfm.

Timeframe: This IM is effective upon receipt.

Budget Impact: Implementing this IM has minimal budget implications.

Background: In July 2004, BLM implemented a Biomass Utilization Strategy for increasing the utilization of biomass from BLM lands consistent with the National Fire Plan, the Healthy Forests Initiative, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, and the new authorities for stewardship contracting. Definitions for biomass and biomass utilization, performance measures and guidelines for counting and tracking biomass accomplishments, and a contract clause for biomass removal were established in June 2005 (IM No. 2005-160). The Biomass Utilization Strategy was updated in July 2005, adding a procurement program for buying bio-based products (IM No. 2005-192).

 

For more information on the definitions, guidelines for tracking biomass accomplishments, the contract clause, and the updated Biomass Utilization Strategy, see IM No. 2005-160 at http://www.blm.gov/nhp/efoia/wo/fy05/im2005-160.htm and IM No. 2005-192 at http://www.blm.gov/nhp/efoia/wo/fy05/im2005-192.htm.

 

Coordination: This IM was coordinated with the Office of Fire and Aviation (FA-600), Division of Rangeland Resources (WO-220), and the Division of Forests and Woodlands (WO-270).

 

Contact: Additional information is available by contacting Gregg Nelson, BLM’s Biomass Coordinator (WO-270), at 202-452-7754; Erik Christiansen, Fuels Management Specialist (FA-600), at 208-387-5165; or Barbara Gaines, Business Utilization and Development Specialist (WO-850), at 202-785-6586.