New Jersey State Office

Description

The New Jersey State Office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS-NJ), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture, is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from all 50 States, Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) for projects located entirely within New Jersey. NRCS-NJ anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2014 will be approximately $148,000. Applications are requested from eligible governmental or non-governmental organizations or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between 1 and 3 years in duration.Funds will be awarded through a two-phase competitive grants process that will include (1) a pre-proposal process and (2) a full proposal process. The full proposal process will only be open to applicants whose pre-proposal applications are selected by NRCS-NJ. Both phases are described in this announcement, but only pre-proposals are being solicited at this time.This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions for CIG projects. Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete applications will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be mailed to the applicant. NRCS will request a full proposal package only from those applicants selected in the pre-proposal phase.DATES: Applications for the pre-proposal phase must be received at the NRCS-NJ State Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on April 30, 2014. Notification of selected pre-proposal applications will be announced by May 12, 2014. Selected applicants will then be required to submit a full proposal package to the NRCS-NJ State Office by 4 p.m. EST on June 30, 2014.ADDRESSES: Applications sent via hand-delivery, express mail, overnight courier service or regular mail must be sent to the following address: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Innovation Grants Program, 220 Davidson Avenue 4th Floor Somerset NJ 08873.Applications sent electronically must be sent to Gregory.Westfall@nj.usda.gov or www.grants.govFor more information contact:Greg WestfallNew Jersey CIG Program Manager220 Davidson Avenue 4th FloorSomerset NJ 08873Phone: (732) 537-6054E-mail: Gregory.Westfall@nj.usda.gov

Who can apply

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education
• Individuals
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses

Contact

Lenora Jordan <br/>Contract Specialist <br/>Phone 732-537-6084
lenora.jordan@nj.usda.gov