Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ 08 02
Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ 08 02
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture employment, labor and training natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "ACES Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902 Soil and Water Conservation.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 16, 2008 and posted on Jul 16, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The ACES Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services Program is a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant opportunity built to help the agency handle heavy conservation workloads by bringing in experienced workers who are age 55 and older. Instead of hiring these workers directly as federal employees, NRCS uses cooperative agreements with outside organizations so that older, highly experienced participants can support NRCS field and program staff on a temporary, part-time basis. The program was launched as a three-year demonstration project meant to establish the procedures and policies needed to run ACES effectively, and it is modeled after the EPA Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program. In practical terms, ACES is described as a cost-effective human capital approach: it expands capacity quickly while keeping the participants outside the federal employment system.
Under this opportunity, NRCS plans to award one or more cooperative agreements (with an expectation of around 10 awards) to eligible applicant organizations. While the narrative emphasizes cooperative agreements with private, nonprofit organizations, the eligibility list in the posting includes nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), small businesses, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses). The total estimated funding listed is $2,000,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated. The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS NHQ 08 02, and it is associated with CFDA 10.902 (Soil and Water Conservation). The activity categories align with agriculture, employment and training, and natural resources.
The central operating model is that the partner organization, not NRCS, is responsible for the full participant employment pipeline and back-office administration. That includes recruiting, screening, placing, and paying the participants using NRCS-approved work descriptions and agreed cost amounts. The organization also handles payroll, timekeeping and time record maintenance, general recordkeeping, and ongoing administrative support for the participants. NRCS, meanwhile, develops the position descriptions and works with the organization to approve them, ensuring that the work aligns with agency needs and program rules.
Participant selection is collaborative but structured. The nonprofit or partner organization screens applicants first and forwards qualified candidates to NRCS for interviews. NRCS conducts interviews and then recommends an applicant for placement, while the organization is the entity that formally notifies the participant of acceptance. Once NRCS recommends someone, participants are expected to report for work within about one week, reinforcing that this program is meant to rapidly add experienced capacity where conservation workload demands are high.
The program also draws clear boundaries around what ACES participants can and cannot do. ACES roles cannot displace existing NRCS employees, and participants are explicitly not considered federal employees. Participants work part time, generally between 16 and 40 hours per week, and their tasks are meant to assist NRCS employees rather than replace them. They also may not perform inherently governmental functions, which is a standard federal limitation designed to ensure that certain decision-making, authority, and official governmental actions remain with federal civil servants.
From the participant perspective, ACES roles include benefits such as leave, unemployment coverage, and wage increases (as applicable through the administering organization). A notable feature is that if a participant is already retired, their retirement annuity is not impacted by the stipend they receive through ACES, which helps make the program attractive to retirees who want to re-engage professionally without jeopardizing retirement income. Participants may also be authorized to use government-owned vehicles when conducting official government business, which indicates that the work can involve field travel and on-the-ground support activities.
Oversight is managed through an NRCS monitor, defined in the announcement as the NRCS civil servant who oversees the participant's work activities and verifies the participant timesheet. This monitor role is important because it establishes day-to-day accountability for the work performed while still keeping the participant administratively employed and paid through the partner organization rather than through NRCS.
Applications for the cooperative agreements are reviewed competitively. Complete applications are evaluated by a review panel and scored against the opportunity's stated application evaluation criteria. Applicants that meet or exceed a defined cutoff score are considered for participation, and NRCS indicates it intends to make one or more awards under the announcement. The posting dates show this was originally posted July 16, 2008, with an original and current closing date of August 15, 2008, and an archive date of September 29, 2008.
For access issues or assistance with the full announcement, the listed contact is Karen Minor, Grants and Agreements Specialist, at 202-720-2929.
ACES Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (NRCS) Grant Opportunity: FAQs
1) What is the ACES Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services Program?
ACES (Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services) is an NRCS grant-based program designed to help NRCS manage heavy conservation workloads by bringing in experienced workers who are age 55 and older. Rather than hiring these workers as federal employees, NRCS uses cooperative agreements with outside organizations so participants can support NRCS field and program staff on a temporary, part-time basis.
2) What problem is this program trying to solve?
The program is intended to rapidly expand NRCS capacity in response to high conservation workload demands. It is described as a cost-effective human capital approach that adds experienced support quickly while keeping participants outside the federal employment system.
3) How does NRCS bring participants on if they are not federal employees?
NRCS partners with outside organizations through cooperative agreements. Those partner organizations recruit, employ, and pay the participants, while NRCS provides NRCS-approved work descriptions and oversees the day-to-day work through an NRCS monitor.
4) Is ACES a hiring program for federal jobs?
No. Participants are explicitly not considered federal employees. The partner organization is the employer of record and is responsible for employment administration and payment.
5) What type of award is NRCS making under this opportunity?
NRCS plans to make one or more cooperative agreement awards under this funding opportunity.
6) Approximately how many awards does NRCS expect to make?
The opportunity states an expectation of around 10 awards, while also noting that NRCS intends to make one or more awards.
7) What is the total estimated funding available?
The total estimated funding listed for this opportunity is $2,000,000.
8) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided information.
9) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA program?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS NHQ 08 02. It is associated with CFDA 10.902 (Soil and Water Conservation).
10) What activity areas does this opportunity align with?
The activity categories align with agriculture, employment and training, and natural resources.
11) Who is eligible to apply for the cooperative agreement(s)?
The posting describes cooperative agreements with private, nonprofit organizations, and the eligibility list includes nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), small businesses, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses).
12) What is the partner organization responsible for under ACES?
The partner organization is responsible for the full participant employment pipeline and administrative operations, including recruiting, screening, placing, and paying participants using NRCS-approved work descriptions and agreed cost amounts. The organization also manages payroll, timekeeping and time record maintenance, general recordkeeping, and ongoing administrative support.
13) What is NRCS responsible for under ACES?
NRCS develops the position/work descriptions and works with the partner organization to approve them so the work aligns with agency needs and program rules. NRCS also interviews candidates forwarded by the partner organization and recommends individuals for placement. Day-to-day work oversight is handled by an NRCS monitor who verifies participant timesheets.
14) How does participant selection work?
Selection is collaborative: the partner organization screens applicants first and forwards qualified candidates to NRCS. NRCS interviews the candidates and recommends an applicant for placement. The partner organization then formally notifies the participant of acceptance.
15) How quickly are participants expected to start after selection?
Once NRCS recommends someone, participants are expected to report for work within about one week, reflecting the program goal of quickly adding experienced capacity.
16) Who can serve as an ACES participant?
ACES is designed to bring in experienced workers who are age 55 and older.
17) Are ACES roles full-time or part-time?
ACES participants work part time, generally between 16 and 40 hours per week.
18) Can ACES participants replace or displace NRCS employees?
No. ACES roles cannot displace existing NRCS employees. Participant tasks are intended to assist NRCS employees rather than replace them.
19) Are there limits on what ACES participants can do?
Yes. Participants may not perform inherently governmental functions. This limitation ensures certain governmental decision-making, authority, and official actions remain with federal civil servants.
20) Who supervises the participant’s work on a day-to-day basis?
Oversight is provided through an NRCS monitor, described as the NRCS civil servant who oversees the participant's work activities and verifies the participant timesheet.
21) Who handles timesheets and time records?
Timekeeping and time record maintenance are handled by the partner organization, while the NRCS monitor verifies the participant timesheet for work oversight and accountability.
22) What kinds of benefits can participants receive?
From the participant perspective, the program includes benefits such as leave, unemployment coverage, and wage increases (as applicable through the administering organization).
23) If a participant is already retired, will ACES pay affect their retirement annuity?
The information provided states that if a participant is already retired, their retirement annuity is not impacted by the stipend they receive through ACES.
24) Can ACES participants use government-owned vehicles?
Yes. Participants may be authorized to use government-owned vehicles when conducting official government business, indicating that work may involve field travel and on-the-ground support activities.
25) How are applications for the cooperative agreements evaluated?
Applications are reviewed competitively. Complete applications are evaluated by a review panel and scored against the opportunity's stated application evaluation criteria. Applicants meeting or exceeding a defined cutoff score are considered for participation.
26) When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting indicates it was originally posted on July 16, 2008. The original and current closing date listed is August 15, 2008. The archive date is September 29, 2008.
27) Who should be contacted for access issues or help with the full announcement?
The listed contact is Karen Minor, Grants and Agreements Specialist, at 202-720-2929.
28) What is the relationship between ACES and other federal senior programs?
ACES was launched as a three-year demonstration project to establish procedures and policies needed to run it effectively, and it is modeled after the EPA Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program.
29) Why does NRCS use cooperative agreements instead of hiring participants directly?
The program structure is intended to expand capacity quickly while keeping participants outside the federal employment system. The partner organization manages employment and administrative functions, while NRCS focuses on defining needed work and overseeing tasks through an NRCS monitor.
30) What does "temporary" support mean in the context of ACES?
The information describes participants supporting NRCS field and program staff on a temporary, part-time basis through placements arranged and administered by the partner organization under the cooperative agreement.
Browse more business programs for Agriculture Services
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture Employment, Labor and Training Natural Resources
Next opportunity: Post Cyclone Sidr Livelihoods Reconstruction, Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness
Previous opportunity: Region 7 Request for Proposals for EPA Dedicated Water Quality Program Funding
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ 08 02
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NRCS NHQ 08 02", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.