Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 13 03FP
Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 13 03FP
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2013 Conservation Innovation Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912 Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 2, 2013 and posted on May 2, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 13, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $25,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR APPLICANTS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR PRE PROPOSALS APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE 2013 CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY AND HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO SUBMIT THEIR FULL PROPOSALS APPLICATIONS.
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2013 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity, run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), was a discretionary grant program designed to speed up the real-world adoption of innovative conservation practices and technologies that work alongside agricultural production. The core idea behind CIG was to use federal funds as a catalyst, encouraging partners to bring forward conservation solutions that are far enough along to be demonstrated in the field and then moved into wider use. In practical terms, NRCS wanted projects that could help translate proven conservation tools, management systems, or implementation approaches into standard NRCS guidance such as policies, technical manuals, and field guides, or that could be adopted broadly by the private sector.
A key point in the announcement is what CIG does not fund. This was not a research grant aimed at testing hypotheses or conducting early-stage experimentation. Projects framed as research studies, where the main purpose is to prove whether something works, were not considered a fit. Instead, CIG was meant for applying, demonstrating, and validating technologies or approaches that have already been studied enough to show a strong likelihood of success. The program functioned more like a bridge between established evidence and widespread implementation: pilots, on-the-ground demonstrations, and practical deployment that could convince producers, agencies, and communities to adopt the innovation at scale.
The scope of eligible projects emphasized field-based conservation outcomes. CIG supported pilot projects and field demonstrations that showcased innovative conservation techniques in real operating conditions, with the expectation that lessons learned would be transferable and useful beyond the project site. The program also highlighted collaboration and knowledge-sharing, encouraging applicants to spread skills, information, technologies, and access to facilities among communities, governments, and institutions so that conservation advances would reach a broader set of users.
In terms of who could apply and where projects could take place, the opportunity was open nationally across all 50 states and also included the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Eligible applicants included federally recognized Indian tribes, state and local units of government, non-governmental organizations, and individuals. The listing notes that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to bring non-federal contributions to help cover project costs and to leverage the federal investment.
The funding details show an estimated total of $25,000,000 available under the opportunity, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and no stated minimum award amount (award floor listed as $0). Projects could be single-year or multi-year, but they could not exceed three years in duration. The funding opportunity was tied to CFDA number 10.912, which is associated with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), reinforcing the program connection to applied conservation improvements on working lands.
The application process used a two-phase competition. First, applicants submitted a pre-proposal that NRCS screened for completeness and compliance; incomplete submissions were eliminated from consideration. NRCS staff reviewed complete pre-proposals based on how well they demonstrated innovative technologies or approaches aligned with at least one of the program topics referenced in the notice (section I.D.). Only applicants selected from this pre-proposal stage were invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals were then evaluated by a technical peer review panel using the formal evaluation criteria described in the application instructions (section VI.B.). After peer review, proposals and reviews were forwarded to a Grants Review Board, which made recommendations to the NRCS Chief, and the NRCS Chief made the final award selections.
This particular announcement is explicitly aimed at applicants who had already submitted pre-proposals and were selected to advance to the full proposal stage for the 2013 cycle. The opportunity was posted May 2, 2013, with a closing date of May 13, 2013, and it was archived June 30, 2013. The listed agency contact for access issues and program questions was Gregorio Cruz, the National CIG Program Manager at USDA NRCS in Washington, DC, and the announcement pointed applicants to the NRCS CIG homepage for additional information.
2013 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) - FAQs
What is the 2013 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity?
The 2013 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity was a discretionary grant program run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to speed up real-world adoption of innovative conservation practices and technologies that work alongside agricultural production. The intent was to use federal funding as a catalyst to move promising, field-ready conservation solutions into broader use.
What is the main goal of CIG funding?
The main goal was to help demonstrate, validate, and move innovative conservation tools, management systems, or implementation approaches into wider implementation. NRCS specifically emphasized projects that could help translate proven approaches into standard NRCS guidance (such as policies, technical manuals, and field guides) or approaches that could be broadly adopted by the private sector.
Is CIG a research grant program?
No. The notice makes clear that CIG was not intended to fund research aimed at testing hypotheses or conducting early-stage experimentation. Projects framed primarily as research studies to determine whether something works were not considered a fit.
What types of projects does CIG fund instead of research?
CIG focused on applying, demonstrating, and validating conservation technologies or approaches that already have enough supporting evidence to show a strong likelihood of success. The program is positioned as a bridge between established evidence and widespread implementation through pilots, on-the-ground demonstrations, and practical deployment.
What kinds of activities were emphasized for eligible projects?
Eligible projects emphasized field-based conservation outcomes, including pilot projects and field demonstrations in real operating conditions. The expectation was that lessons learned would be transferable and useful beyond the project site.
Does CIG encourage partnerships and information sharing?
Yes. The opportunity highlighted collaboration and knowledge-sharing, encouraging applicants to spread skills, information, technologies, and access to facilities among communities, governments, and institutions so conservation advances could reach more users.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included federally recognized Indian tribes, state and local units of government, non-governmental organizations, and individuals.
Where could projects take place?
The opportunity was open nationally across all 50 states and also included the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The listing states that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources to help cover project costs and to leverage the federal investment.
How much total funding was available for the 2013 CIG opportunity?
The opportunity listed an estimated total of $25,000,000 available.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $1,000,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum award amount was stated. The award floor was listed as $0.
How long could CIG projects last?
Projects could be single-year or multi-year, but they could not exceed three years in duration.
What CFDA number was associated with this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was tied to CFDA number 10.912, which is associated with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
How did the application process work?
The competition used a two-phase process:
- Phase 1: Pre-proposal - Applicants submitted a pre-proposal that NRCS screened for completeness and compliance. Incomplete submissions were eliminated.
- Phase 2: Full proposal - Only applicants selected from the pre-proposal stage were invited to submit a full proposal for further review and scoring.
How were pre-proposals reviewed?
NRCS staff reviewed complete pre-proposals based on how well they demonstrated innovative technologies or approaches aligned with at least one of the program topics referenced in the notice (section I.D.).
How were full proposals evaluated?
Full proposals were evaluated by a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria described in the application instructions (section VI.B.).
Who made the final award decisions?
After peer review, proposals and reviews were forwarded to a Grants Review Board, which made recommendations to the NRCS Chief. The NRCS Chief made the final award selections.
Was this announcement open to new applicants, or only to certain applicants?
This specific announcement was explicitly aimed at applicants who had already submitted pre-proposals and were selected to advance to the full proposal stage for the 2013 cycle.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 2, 2013, and had a closing date of May 13, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on June 30, 2013.
Who was the listed agency contact for questions or access issues?
The listed contact was Gregorio Cruz, the National CIG Program Manager at USDA NRCS in Washington, DC.
Where were applicants directed for additional information?
The announcement pointed applicants to the NRCS CIG homepage for additional information.
What happens if a pre-proposal submission is incomplete?
Incomplete pre-proposals were eliminated from consideration during the NRCS screening for completeness and compliance.
What kind of innovation was NRCS looking for in CIG projects?
NRCS was looking for innovative conservation practices and technologies that are far enough along to be demonstrated in the field and then moved into wider use. The focus was on practical, field-ready innovations rather than early-stage experimentation.
What does it mean that CIG aims to move innovations into NRCS guidance?
It means NRCS was interested in projects that could help turn proven conservation tools or approaches into standard NRCS references such as policies, technical manuals, and field guides, so they could be replicated and used more broadly.
How is CIG connected to EQIP?
The opportunity references CFDA 10.912, associated with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), reinforcing that CIG supports applied conservation improvements on working lands rather than purely academic research.
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