Puerto Rico State Office

Description

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches into NRCS policy, technical manuals, guides, and references, or to the private sector. CIG does not fund research projects and projects intended to test hypotheses do not qualify for a CIG award. CIG is used to apply or demonstrate new and or previously proven technology with a new approach. It is a vehicle to stimulate development and adoption of conservation approaches or technologies that have been studied sufficiently to indicate a high likelihood of success, and that are a candidate for eventual technology transfer or institutionalization. CIG promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. NRCS will accept applications under this notice for single or multi-year projects not to exceed 3 years submitted by eligible entities from the Caribbean Area, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands only. Eligible entities include federally recognized Indian tribes, State and local units of government, non-governmental organizations and individuals. Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete applications will be eliminated from competition. Notification of elimination will be mailed to the applicant. Complete applications received by applicable deadlines will be evaluated by a technical peer review panel based on the Application Evaluation Criteria identified in the application instructions in section V.B. Applications, along with their associated technical peer review, will then be forwarded to the Review Board. The Review Board will make recommendations for project approval to the NRCS State Conservationist who will make the final selections.

Who can apply

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education
• Individuals
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses

Contact

JAIME VALENTIN, CIG PROGRAM MANAGER <br/>Phone 787-766-5206 ext 121 <br/>
jaime.valentin@pr.usda.gov