Directs the Secretaries to establish a multiparty monitoring, evaluation, and accountability process to assess the accomplishments or adverse impacts of projects implemented under this Act.
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretaries to provide cost-share grants, cooperative agreements, or both to establish Restoration and Value-Added Centers ("Centers") to provide technical assistance to non-profit organizations, small or micro-enterprises, and persons interested in forming certain types of natural-resource small or micro-enterprises. Requires the Centers to provide assistance in at least one of various areas, including accessing funding, and, for small and micro-enterprises located in rural communities, accessing urban markets.
Specifies certain regions that must have at least one Center, including northern California and eastern Oregon.
Permits the Secretaries to enter into partnerships with various entities to create and maintain Centers. Declares that funds provided by the Secretaries shall equal 75 percent of the operating costs of each Center, not to exceed $1 million annually per center. Provides for a gradual reduction in Federal outlays after a Center has operated for five years.
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretaries to limit competition for special salvage timber sales and other timber-related contracts and agreements such that natural-resource related small or micro-enterprises and other specified entities receive a specified percentage of the contracts and agreements each year.
Allows the Secretaries to select a source for performance of a contract or an agreement under this Act on a best value basis, considering one or more specified criteria.
(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program of applied research to identify restoration methods and treatments and to test and develop value-added products created from the by-products of restoration. Requires the Secretary to disseminate the research to rural communities adjacent to or surrounded by National Forest System or public lands.
(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 9) States that nothing in this Act is intended to modify the Small Business Act, other specified law, certain Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations, or affect the Small Business shares prescribed in the Memorandum of Understanding on the Small Business Set Aside Program or the amount of timber volume offered to SBA qualified companies.