Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIGOFT 23 NOFO0001312
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering the FY 2023 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials) program to help move practical, innovative conservation ideas from concept to real-world use on working farms and ranches. The main goal is to speed up adoption and evaluation of new or improved conservation approaches by funding projects that are carried out in partnership with agricultural producers, so results are grounded in on-the-ground conditions and can be replicated or scaled more broadly if they work.
For FY 2023, NRCS will accept applications for on-farm trial projects that address at least one of four stated priorities: irrigation management technologies, feed management and enteric methane reduction, grazing lands, and nutrient management and soil health demonstration (SHD) trials. The focus across these priorities is on testing and demonstrating approaches that measurably improve natural resource outcomes, such as water use efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions from livestock digestion, better grazing management outcomes, or improved nutrient cycling and soil health performance.
Total funding available is up to $50 million for FY 2023, with individual awards capped at $5,000,000. NRCS anticipates making about 15 awards under this notice. Projects are expected to run for multi-year periods, with allowable project durations ranging from 3 to 5 years, reflecting the reality that conservation outcomes and producer adoption often require several seasons to evaluate properly.
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, with a hard deadline of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on October 30, 2023. Applicants experiencing technical problems with Grants.gov are directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), and NRCS staff will not assist with Grants.gov account issues. Questions to the agency are intended to be limited to clarifying information already contained in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (for example, confirming dates, page references, or resolving inconsistencies). NRCS notes that it will not respond to questions about applicant eligibility determinations or the strength or competitiveness of a specific project idea.
NRCS scheduled an informational webinar for prospective On-Farm Trials applicants on September 13, 2023 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time via Microsoft Teams, with participation available by computer/mobile app or by phone (audio only) at 1-202-650-0123 using Conference ID 565 622 505#. While the exact timeline can change, NRCS estimated selections would be made by January 15, 2024, with award execution expected by May 31, 2024.
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 10.912) supporting work in agriculture, the environment, natural resources, and research and development. Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); and for-profit entities including small businesses. The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS NHQ CIGOFT 23 NOFO0001312, and the notice was created on August 31, 2023 with an original closing date of October 30, 2023.Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIGOFT 23 NOFO0001312
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials for fiscal year (FY) 2023" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 31, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 30, 2023 Applications must be received by 1159 pm Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the FY 2023 CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials) program?
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) FY 2023 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Trials program is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to move practical, innovative conservation ideas from concept into real-world use on working farms and ranches. The program funds projects carried out in partnership with agricultural producers so results reflect on-the-ground conditions and can be replicated or scaled more broadly if successful.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to speed up the adoption and evaluation of new or improved conservation approaches by supporting on-farm trial projects that generate measurable natural resource outcomes and practical learning that can be applied beyond the initial project sites.
3) What priorities must an On-Farm Trial application address?
For FY 2023, NRCS will accept applications for on-farm trial projects that address at least one of these four priorities:
- Irrigation management technologies
- Feed management and enteric methane reduction
- Grazing lands
- Nutrient management and soil health demonstration (SHD) trials
4) What kinds of outcomes is NRCS looking for across these priorities?
The focus is on testing and demonstrating approaches that measurably improve natural resource outcomes, such as:
- Improved water use efficiency (for example, through irrigation management technologies)
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from livestock digestion (enteric methane reduction)
- Better grazing management outcomes
- Improved nutrient cycling and stronger soil health performance (including SHD trials)
5) How much funding is available under this notice?
Total funding available is up to $50 million for FY 2023.
6) Is there a maximum award amount per project?
Yes. Individual awards are capped at $5,000,000.
7) About how many awards does NRCS expect to make?
NRCS anticipates making about 15 awards under this notice.
8) How long can projects run?
Projects are expected to be multi-year. Allowable project durations range from 3 to 5 years.
9) Why are projects allowed to last 3 to 5 years?
NRCS indicates that conservation outcomes and producer adoption often require several seasons to evaluate properly, so the program allows multi-year timelines to support meaningful evaluation under real operating conditions.
10) What is the application deadline?
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on October 30, 2023.
11) How must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
12) What should applicants do if they have technical issues with Grants.gov?
Applicants experiencing technical problems with Grants.gov are directed to contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
13) Will NRCS staff help with Grants.gov account problems?
No. NRCS notes that its staff will not assist with Grants.gov account issues.
14) What kinds of questions will NRCS answer about this opportunity?
NRCS intends agency questions to be limited to clarifying information already contained in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), such as confirming dates, pointing to page references, or resolving inconsistencies in the NOFO.
15) What kinds of questions will NRCS not respond to?
NRCS notes it will not respond to questions about applicant eligibility determinations or the strength or competitiveness of a specific project idea.
16) Was there an informational webinar for applicants?
Yes. NRCS scheduled an informational webinar for prospective On-Farm Trials applicants on September 13, 2023 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time via Microsoft Teams.
17) How could people join the webinar?
Participation was available by computer/mobile app through Microsoft Teams or by phone (audio only) at 1-202-650-0123 using Conference ID 565 622 505#.
18) When did NRCS estimate selections would be made?
NRCS estimated selections would be made by January 15, 2024, noting the timeline can change.
19) When did NRCS expect award execution to occur?
Award execution was expected by May 31, 2024, although NRCS noted the timeline can change.
20) What type of grant program is this?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program under CFDA 10.912. It supports work in agriculture, the environment, natural resources, and research and development.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- Nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3))
- For-profit entities, including small businesses
22) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS NHQ CIGOFT 23 NOFO0001312.
23) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 10.912.
24) When was the notice created and what was the original closing date?
The notice was created on August 31, 2023, with an original closing date of October 30, 2023.
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