Opportunity Information: Apply for NRCS AR ACEP 15 0002
Apply for NRCS AR ACEP 15 0002
- The NRCS Arkansas State Office in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement for Funding Opportunity Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Design and Restoration Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.072 Wetlands Reserve Program 10.923 Emergency Watershed Protection Program 10.931 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 10, 2015 and posted on Jun 11, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Individuals Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- For profit organizations with conservation focused objectives
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Opportunity Summary:
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Arkansas State Office issued this discretionary funding opportunity to select partners that can help deliver on-the-ground wetland restoration work on eligible conservation properties across the state. The announcement, titled Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Design and Restoration Assistance (Funding Opportunity Number NRCS-AR-ACEP-15-0002), seeks applications for cooperative agreements to support planning, engineering/design, and implementation assistance tied to three NRCS program areas: the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP; CFDA 10.072), the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP; CFDA 10.931), and the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program (CFDA 10.923). The overall intent is to strengthen wetland and associated upland restoration outcomes by expanding technical capacity available to landowners and NRCS for project development and delivery.
The core purpose of the work is to provide landowners with technical and (through NRCS programs) financial assistance that helps them plan, design, and implement restoration plans that improve wetland function and the surrounding landscape. The announcement emphasizes outcomes such as maximizing wildlife habitat in wetland systems, improving water quality, reducing soil erosion, reducing flood impacts, and creating or enhancing habitat opportunities for threatened and endangered species. In practical terms, the funded partner is expected to help translate program goals into buildable, standards-compliant restoration plans and to support execution of those plans in the field, consistent with NRCS standards and specifications.
The scope of activities described is broad and can include any portion of the technical and engineering workflow needed to complete restoration, enhancement, or creation practices. Examples of the types of services NRCS flags include engineering surveys; preliminary and final engineering designs; inspection; and construction management for wetland-related conservation practices. This can cover multiple phases of a restoration project, from early site assessment and concept development through final design and oversight during implementation, depending on what NRCS and the landowner need for a given property and practice.
Awards under this opportunity are structured as cooperative agreements, meaning NRCS anticipates substantial involvement and coordination during performance rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The performance period is described as a base year with the possibility of up to four one-year option periods, allowing NRCS to continue the partnership across multiple years if progress, need, and funding align. The notice also makes clear that the competition is compliance-driven: applications are screened for completeness and adherence to the announcement requirements, and incomplete applications are removed from consideration, with applicants notified by mail.
Eligibility is fairly inclusive and is aimed at entities capable of doing conservation-focused technical work. Eligible applicants listed include city or township governments, county governments, special district governments, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those categories), tribes (noted in the narrative), individuals, and other applicants as clarified in the full announcement. The eligibility information also notes for-profit organizations may be considered if they have conservation-focused objectives, which signals NRCS is prioritizing demonstrated mission alignment and technical capacity over organizational form. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Key administrative details include a posted date of June 11, 2015 (creation date June 10, 2015), with an application closing date of July 15, 2015, and an archive date of August 14, 2015. The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the opportunity is run by the NRCS Arkansas State Office. For questions or access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact is Alexis Cook, Program Analyst, at 501-301-3166 or alexis.cook@ar.usda.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Arkansas State Office discretionary funding opportunity to select partners that can help deliver on-the-ground wetland restoration work on eligible conservation properties across Arkansas. The announcement is titled Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Design and Restoration Assistance (Funding Opportunity Number NRCS-AR-ACEP-15-0002).
2) What type of award will be made?
Awards are made as cooperative agreements. This means NRCS expects substantial involvement and coordination with the selected partner during the project period (as opposed to a more hands-off grant relationship).
3) What is the main purpose of the cooperative agreement?
The core purpose is to expand technical capacity available to landowners and NRCS so restoration projects can be planned, designed, and implemented in a way that improves wetland function and associated upland restoration outcomes.
4) Which NRCS program areas does this opportunity support?
The opportunity supports planning, engineering/design, and implementation assistance tied to three NRCS program areas:
- Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) (CFDA 10.072)
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) (CFDA 10.931)
- Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program (CFDA 10.923)
5) What kinds of outcomes is NRCS looking for?
The announcement emphasizes restoration outcomes such as:
- Maximizing wildlife habitat in wetland systems
- Improving water quality
- Reducing soil erosion
- Reducing flood impacts
- Creating or enhancing habitat opportunities for threatened and endangered species
6) What types of activities can the funded partner perform?
The scope is broad and can include any portion of the technical and engineering workflow needed to complete restoration, enhancement, or creation practices, depending on what NRCS and the landowner need for a given property and practice.
7) What are examples of technical services mentioned in the announcement?
NRCS specifically flags services such as:
- Engineering surveys
- Preliminary engineering designs
- Final engineering designs
- Inspection
- Construction management for wetland-related conservation practices
8) Does the work cover planning only, or also field implementation support?
It can cover multiple phases, from early site assessment and concept development through final design and oversight during implementation. The partner is expected to help translate program goals into buildable, standards-compliant restoration plans and support execution in the field consistent with NRCS standards and specifications.
9) Where will the work take place?
The work is intended for eligible conservation properties across the state of Arkansas.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants listed include:
- City or township governments
- County governments
- Special district governments
- Nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories)
- Tribes (noted in the narrative)
- Individuals
- Other applicants as clarified in the full announcement
11) Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?
The eligibility information notes that for-profit organizations may be considered if they have conservation-focused objectives. This signals NRCS is prioritizing mission alignment and technical capacity over organizational form.
12) Is a cost share or match required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
13) How long is the performance period?
The performance period is described as a base year with the possibility of up to four one-year option periods. This structure allows NRCS to continue the partnership across multiple years if progress, need, and funding align.
14) How will applications be handled if they are incomplete?
The notice states the competition is compliance-driven: applications are screened for completeness and adherence to the announcement requirements. Incomplete applications are removed from consideration, and applicants are notified by mail.
15) What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources.
16) Which office is administering this opportunity?
This opportunity is run by the USDA NRCS Arkansas State Office.
17) What are the key dates for this opportunity?
- Posted date: June 11, 2015 (creation date June 10, 2015)
- Application closing date: July 15, 2015
- Archive date: August 14, 2015
18) Who can be contacted for questions or access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact is:
Alexis Cook, Program Analyst
Phone: 501-301-3166
Email: alexis.cook@ar.usda.gov
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