Natural Resources Conservation Service

Description

UPDATE: Posted 03/27: A meeting is scheduled for applicants proposing projects in South Dakota on Tuesday, April 14 at 10 a.m. Central Time to present information for what is need for submission to NRCS South Dakota for this opportunity.. Dial-In Number – 1-888-844-9904 Access Code - 1278274 SUMMARY INFORMATIONFederal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation ServiceFunding Opportunity Title: Conservation Collaboration Grants or Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Announcement for Program Funding – MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, and SOUTH DAKOTAFunding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-MULTI-CCG-20-GEN0010740Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number (also known as Assistance Listing): 10.902 Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)10.912 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)10.924 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)10.931 Agricultural Conservation Enhancement Program (ACEP)10.069 Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)Funding Opportunity Announcement Summary The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing potential availability of grants and agreements for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources, addressing local natural resource issues, encouraging collaboration and developing state- and community-level conservation leadership. Proposals will be accepted for projects located in the following states: Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.Proposals are requested from Federally recognized tribal governments, State and local units of government, non-profit organizations having a 501(c)(3) status, and institutions of higher education for competitive consideration of grant or agreement awards for projects between 1 and 3 years in duration. In addition to the entities listed above, applications will be accepted and considered from for-profit entities under the ACEP and CTA programs for projects addressing the following areas of importance and will be given priority consideration:Grazing assistance – grazing plans, demonstrations and trainingTribal Conservation Planners and planningWatershed focused results (benefits of targeting and social outcomes)AG 101 – field training to increase awareness of cropping systems and equipment utilized in agriculturePrescribed Burn – plans, trainings and creating a network of consultantsThis notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions for projects. Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant.NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2020 varies by state as identified below, although the availability and composition of available funds has not yet been determined.State: MontanaEstimated Total Available: $2,000,000Minimum: $100,000Maximum: $1,000,000Anticipated # of Grants/Agreements: 6State: NebraskaEstimated Total Available: $1,500,000Minimum: $50,000Maximum: $1,000,000Anticipated # of Grants/Agreements: 6State: North DakotaEstimated Total Available: $4,000,000 Minimum: $20,000Maximum: $1,000,000Anticipated # of Grants/Agreements: 20State: South DakotaEstimated Total Available: $4,800,000Minimum: $20,000Maximum: $1,000,000Anticipated # of Grants/Agreements: 20Key DatesApplications must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time on April 30, 2020. Funding decisions will be made by the respective NRCS State Conservationist, informed by the ranking list and the availability of funding in the programs whose CFDA numbers are listed above.For technical issues with Grants.gov, please contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.A complete application must be submitted to the email address below for the respective state of the project location. Montanakyle.tackett@usda.gov with a carbon copy to kris.berg@usda.govNebraskaNRCSNEBProposals@nrcs.usda.govNorth Dakotajill.howard@usda.gov with a carbon copy to lisa.lund@usda.govSouth Dakotasd.nrcs.proposals@nrcs.usda.gov

Who can apply

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township 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

Contact

Michele Devaney <br/>Grants Management Specialist <br/>Phone 801-524-4587
michele.devaney@usda.gov