Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ 12 02
Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ 12 02
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CIG Water Quality Credit Trading Markets Funding Opportunity" 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 Jan 13, 2012 and posted on Jan 13, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 2, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Individuals County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments State governments Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The CIG Water Quality Credit Trading Markets Funding Opportunity (USDA NRCS NHQ 12 02) is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) framework. Its core purpose is to speed up the real-world adoption of innovative conservation methods and technologies that improve environmental quality while supporting agricultural production. A major emphasis is taking approaches that are already proven to work and helping move them into wider use, either by being incorporated into NRCS policy and technical resources (manuals, guides, references) or by being adopted broadly in the private sector. In practice, this means the program is meant to be a bridge between an idea that has already been demonstrated successfully and the larger-scale systems needed for routine implementation.
A key point in this opportunity is what it does not fund. CIG is not a research grant program, and proposals built around testing hypotheses or conducting experiments to determine whether something works are not eligible. Instead, NRCS is looking for projects that apply or demonstrate conservation practices, management systems, or market-based tools that have been studied enough to show a high likelihood of success. The intent is to use federal dollars to catalyze adoption, reduce barriers to implementation, and create models that other jurisdictions or partners can replicate.
For fiscal year 2012, this specific funding category targets water quality credit trading systems. Water quality credit trading markets are a developing tool used to help meet existing or anticipated federal and state water quality requirements by allowing regulated sources (often point sources such as wastewater treatment plants) to meet obligations through purchasing verified pollution-reduction credits generated by other parties (often nonpoint sources such as agricultural operations implementing conservation practices). The overall goal of these grants is to help state agencies and their partners design and launch functioning water quality credit trading markets that connect point and nonpoint sources, moving beyond concept and into practical market operation. The program also stresses knowledge-sharing and collaboration, aiming to make effective tools and approaches accessible across communities, governments, and institutions.
The opportunity anticipates making about 25 awards, supported by an estimated total funding amount of $10,000,000. Individual awards can be as large as $2,000,000, with no stated minimum award floor. Projects may be single-year or multi-year, but they cannot exceed a three-year project period. A cost-share or matching contribution is required, which means applicants should be prepared to bring non-federal resources to the project and clearly document how the match will be met.
Eligibility is broad and includes federally recognized tribal governments, state governments, county and local governments (including cities or townships), special district governments, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations), for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profit organizations), individuals, and institutions of higher education (both public and private). Applications are accepted nationwide across all 50 states, as well as 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). The funding activity aligns with agriculture, environmental, and natural resources priorities and is associated with CFDA 10.912, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Applications go through a structured review and selection process. NRCS first screens submissions for completeness and compliance with the announcement requirements, and incomplete applications are removed from consideration. Complete applications received by the deadline are evaluated by a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria described in the application instructions. After technical review, applications and reviews are forwarded to the Grants Review Board, which makes funding recommendations to the NRCS Chief, and the NRCS Chief makes the final award selections.
For timeline context, the opportunity was posted on January 13, 2012, with a closing date of March 2, 2012, and it was archived April 1, 2012. For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Gregorio Cruz, National CIG Program Manager at USDA NRCS in Washington, DC, with phone and fax contact information provided in the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the CIG Water Quality Credit Trading Markets Funding Opportunity (USDA NRCS NHQ 12 02)?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) framework. The focus of this specific category is to help design and launch functioning water quality credit trading markets that connect point sources and nonpoint sources and move beyond planning into practical market operation.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program is intended to speed up real-world adoption of innovative conservation methods and technologies that improve environmental quality while supporting agricultural production. A major emphasis is taking approaches that are already proven to work and helping move them into wider use, including potential incorporation into NRCS policy and technical resources (such as manuals, guides, and references) or broader adoption in the private sector.
Is this program meant for research projects?
No. CIG is not a research grant program. Proposals that revolve around testing hypotheses or conducting experiments to determine whether something works are not eligible under this opportunity.
If research is not eligible, what kinds of projects are the best fit?
NRCS is looking for projects that apply or demonstrate conservation practices, management systems, or market-based tools that have already been studied enough to show a high likelihood of success. The intent is to catalyze adoption, reduce barriers to implementation, and create models that others can replicate.
What does this FY 2012 funding category specifically target?
For fiscal year 2012, this funding category targets water quality credit trading systems, with an emphasis on helping state agencies and their partners create operational markets that connect regulated sources and credit generators and support compliance with existing or anticipated federal and state water quality requirements.
What are water quality credit trading markets, in general terms?
They are market systems that allow regulated sources (often point sources like wastewater treatment plants) to meet water quality obligations by purchasing verified pollution-reduction credits generated by others (often nonpoint sources such as agricultural operations implementing conservation practices).
What outcomes is NRCS trying to achieve with these grants?
The goal is to move trading programs beyond concept into practical market operation by supporting the design and launch of functioning markets. The opportunity also emphasizes knowledge-sharing and collaboration so that effective tools and approaches can be used across communities, governments, and institutions.
How many awards does NRCS expect to make, and what is the total funding amount?
The opportunity anticipates making about 25 awards, supported by an estimated total funding amount of $10,000,000.
What is the maximum award size?
Individual awards can be as large as $2,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor is stated in the provided opportunity information.
How long can a project last?
Projects may be single-year or multi-year, but they cannot exceed a three-year project period.
Is matching funding (cost-share) required?
Yes. A cost-share or matching contribution is required. Applicants should be prepared to provide non-federal resources and clearly document how the match will be met.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes federally recognized tribal governments; state governments; county and local governments (including cities or townships); special district governments; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations); for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profit organizations); individuals; and institutions of higher education (public and private).
Where is this funding opportunity available geographically?
Applications are accepted nationwide across all 50 states, as well as 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).
What program area does this opportunity align with?
The funding activity aligns with agriculture, environmental, and natural resources priorities and is associated with CFDA 10.912, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
How does the application review and selection process work?
NRCS first screens submissions for completeness and compliance with the announcement requirements. Incomplete applications are removed from consideration. Complete applications received by the deadline are evaluated by a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria described in the application instructions. After technical review, applications and reviews go to the Grants Review Board, which makes recommendations to the NRCS Chief, and the NRCS Chief makes the final award selections.
What happens if an application is incomplete?
Incomplete applications are removed from consideration during NRCS's initial screening for completeness and compliance.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on January 13, 2012, with a closing date of March 2, 2012.
Is this opportunity still active?
No. It was archived on April 1, 2012.
Who was the point of contact listed for this opportunity?
The listed point of contact was Gregorio Cruz, National CIG Program Manager at USDA NRCS in Washington, DC. The notice provided phone and fax contact information.
What is the overall role of CIG in conservation innovation?
CIG is designed to act as a bridge between an approach that has already been demonstrated successfully and the larger-scale systems needed for routine implementation. Federal funds are used to reduce adoption barriers, catalyze implementation, and support replication of successful models.
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| Arkansas CIG 2012 Apply for USDA NRCS AR 12 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR 12 001 Agency: NRCS Arkansas State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Kentucky FY12 Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS KYSO 12 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS KYSO 12 01 Agency: Kentucky State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Kentucky Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS KY 12 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS KY 12 01 Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Vermont Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) FY 2012 Apply for USDANRCS501201 Funding Number: USDANRCS501201 Agency: Vermont State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Arkansas Final CIG Apply for USDA NRCS AR 12 002 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR 12 002 Agency: NRCS Arkansas State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grants 2012 RI Apply for USDA NRCS RI 12 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI 12 01 Agency: Rhode Island State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| WRP Wetlands Restoration Implementation Apply for USDA NRCS NH 12 002 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NH 12 002 Agency: USDA NRCS NH State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| New York Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS NY 12 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NY 12 001 Agency: New York State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Rangeland Research Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003868 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 003868 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Expert IPM Decision Support System Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 003909 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 003909 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $143,000 |
| 2013 Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ 13 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NHQ 13 01 Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| NRCS CO State Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) FY13 Apply for USDA NRCS CO 13 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CO 13 01 Agency: Colorado State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Arkansas CIG 2013 Apply for USDA NRCS AR 13 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR 13 001 Agency: NRCS Arkansas State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| New York Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS NY 13 001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NY 13 001 Agency: New York State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| 2013 NH Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS NH 13 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NH 13 01 Agency: USDA NRCS NH State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $59,300 |
| 2013 Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 13 03FP Funding Number: USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 13 03FP Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| 2013 NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants Colorado Full Proposals Apply for USDA NRCS CO 13 01FB Funding Number: USDA NRCS CO 13 01FB Agency: Colorado State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| FY 2013 CIG CARIBBEAN AREA Apply for USDA NRCS PR 001A Funding Number: USDA NRCS PR 001A Agency: Puerto Rico State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Expert IPM Decision Support System Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 004295 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 004295 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $130,000 |
| Assistance in NRCS Program Delivery Apply for USDA NRCS VT 50 13 02 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VT 50 13 02 Agency: Vermont State Office Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $175,000 |
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