Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA CSREES ICGP 002256
Apply for USDA CSREES ICGP 002256
- The CSREES in the agriculture disaster prevention and relief education employment, labor and training environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.303 Integrated Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 1, 2009 and posted on Apr 30, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 1, 2009. (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.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $660,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103) are eligible to submit applications for the Integrated Research, Education and Extension Competitive Grants Program National Integrated Water Quality Program Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). Section 1404 of NARETPA was amended by section 7101 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) to define Hispanic serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) (see Part III, B. and Part VIII, E. for more information), and to include research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities. Section 7101 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 amended section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA) to add a new group of cooperating institutions, Hispanic serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs). HSACUs are colleges and universities that qualify as Hispanic serving Institutions (HSIs) and offer associate, bachelors, or other accredited degree programs in agriculture related fields. HSACUs do not include 1862 land grant institutions.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA CSREES ICGP 002256) was a FY 2009 discretionary, competitive grant program administered by USDA CSREES under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs). The overall purpose was to strengthen the evidence base around how well conservation practices work, with this particular solicitation focusing on grazing lands and watershed-scale outcomes. In practical terms, the program was looking to fund applied research efforts that connect on-the-ground conservation actions in grazing landscapes to measurable changes in watershed health, using strong monitoring and credible analytical methods so results can be used for real management and policy decisions.
The FY 2009 program priorities emphasized building detailed case studies in intensively monitored watersheds where grazing land use is a key driver of watershed conditions. The intent was not to evaluate a single practice in isolation, but to examine the effectiveness of multiple conservation practices working together at the watershed scale to address specific watershed health problems tied to grazing. This focus implies projects should be able to link conservation practice implementation to observed or modeled changes in indicators such as runoff, erosion, sediment delivery, nutrient transport, stream condition, or other relevant watershed health metrics, especially where grazing management and related conservation treatments play a central role.
A second major priority was the application of quantitative and geographically based interpretive techniques to analyze conservation effects. The solicitation explicitly pointed to a range of methods, including physical modeling, statistical approaches, and landscape modeling, along with geographically oriented analyses (for example, GIS-based assessments). This signals that proposals were expected to go beyond descriptive reporting and instead use rigorous analytical frameworks capable of separating signal from noise, attributing outcomes to conservation actions where possible, and scaling findings in a way that helps explain patterns across space and time. The goal was to produce results that are technically defensible and transferable, so that other watersheds, agencies, and land managers can learn from the findings.
A third priority was broader knowledge expansion to improve decision making and management for grazing land watersheds. This is essentially the program impact goal: turning monitoring data and analysis into information that agencies, conservation planners, and watershed managers can use to choose practices, target investments, and adapt management strategies. While the opportunity sat within an integrated research, education, and extension context, the description is especially centered on producing actionable watershed-scale understanding rather than purely academic outputs.
Funding for this opportunity was estimated at $2,000,000 total, with an expectation of making about three awards. Individual awards could be as high as $660,000, with no stated minimum award amount (award floor listed as $0). The funding instrument was a grant, and cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources according to the program rules described in the full announcement.
Eligibility was aimed at colleges and universities as defined under section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103), including relevant updates made by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The eligibility language also reflected the inclusion of research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities, and it highlighted Hispanic Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) as an added group of cooperating institutions. HSACUs were described as institutions that qualify as Hispanic Serving Institutions and offer accredited agriculture-related degree programs, while noting that HSACUs do not include 1862 land-grant institutions. The listing also references public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and indicates that additional eligibility details were provided in the full RFA.
Key dates show the opportunity was posted on April 30, 2009, with an application closing date of July 1, 2009. The archive date was February 17, 2010, indicating the competition is long closed and included here as a historical funding announcement. For access issues or RFA-specific questions at the time, the announcement directed applicants to the CSREES Help Desk (202-401-5048) during standard Eastern Time business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP) grant opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number USDA CSREES ICGP 002256. It was a FY 2009 discretionary, competitive grant program administered by USDA CSREES under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs).
What was the overall purpose of this CEAP solicitation?
The purpose was to strengthen the evidence base on how well conservation practices work. This specific solicitation focused on grazing lands and watershed-scale outcomes, supporting applied research that links conservation actions in grazing landscapes to measurable changes in watershed health using strong monitoring and credible analytical methods.
What kinds of landscapes and outcomes were emphasized?
The solicitation emphasized grazing lands and outcomes observed at the watershed scale. Projects were expected to connect on-the-ground conservation practice implementation in grazing landscapes to changes in watershed health indicators.
What was the main research approach the program was looking for?
The FY 2009 priorities emphasized building detailed case studies in intensively monitored watersheds where grazing land use is a key driver of watershed conditions. The intent was to evaluate multiple conservation practices working together at the watershed scale rather than assessing a single practice in isolation.
Was the program interested in evaluating one conservation practice at a time?
No. The solicitation specifically indicated the intent was not to evaluate a single practice in isolation, but to examine the effectiveness of multiple conservation practices working together at the watershed scale to address watershed health problems tied to grazing.
What types of watershed health indicators were relevant to this opportunity?
Examples of relevant indicators included runoff, erosion, sediment delivery, nutrient transport, stream condition, and other watershed health metrics, especially where grazing management and related conservation treatments are central to the watershed issues being studied.
Did projects need to show a connection between practices and measurable changes?
Yes. The described focus implies projects should be able to link conservation practice implementation to observed or modeled changes in watershed health indicators (for example, changes in runoff, erosion, sediment, nutrients, or stream condition).
What analytical or interpretive methods were encouraged?
The solicitation emphasized quantitative and geographically based interpretive techniques. It explicitly referenced physical modeling, statistical approaches, and landscape modeling, along with geographically oriented analyses such as GIS-based assessments.
Was descriptive reporting alone considered sufficient?
No. The solicitation signaled that proposals were expected to go beyond descriptive reporting and use rigorous analytical frameworks capable of separating signal from noise, attributing outcomes to conservation actions where possible, and scaling findings across space and time.
What was meant by producing results that are "technically defensible and transferable"?
The intent was for projects to generate credible monitoring and analysis results that can be used for real management and policy decisions, and that can help other watersheds, agencies, and land managers learn from the findings.
What was the broader impact goal of the program?
A major priority was expanding knowledge to improve decision making and management for grazing land watersheds. The program description emphasized turning monitoring data and analysis into actionable information that agencies, conservation planners, and watershed managers can use to choose practices, target investments, and adapt management strategies.
Was this opportunity part of an integrated research, education, and extension context?
Yes. The opportunity was listed under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs), and the description notes an integrated research, education, and extension context. However, the provided description is especially centered on actionable watershed-scale understanding rather than purely academic outputs.
How much total funding was estimated for this competition?
Total funding was estimated at $2,000,000.
How many awards were expected?
The program expected to make about three awards.
What was the maximum award amount?
Individual awards could be as high as $660,000.
Was there a minimum award size?
No minimum award amount was stated. The award floor was listed as $0.
What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument was a grant.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources according to the program rules described in the full announcement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was aimed at colleges and universities as defined under section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103), including relevant updates made by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
Could research foundations apply?
Yes. The eligibility language included research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities.
How were Hispanic Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) treated in the eligibility description?
The eligibility language highlighted HSACUs as an added group of cooperating institutions. HSACUs were described as institutions that qualify as Hispanic Serving Institutions and offer accredited agriculture-related degree programs, and the description noted that HSACUs do not include 1862 land-grant institutions.
Did the announcement reference any other institution categories?
Yes. The listing referenced public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and indicated that additional eligibility details were provided in the full RFA.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 30, 2009.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date was July 1, 2009.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The archive date was February 17, 2010, indicating the competition is long closed and is presented as a historical funding announcement.
Where could applicants get help with access issues or RFA-specific questions?
The announcement directed applicants to the CSREES Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard Eastern Time business hours.
What did the solicitation mean by "intensively monitored watersheds"?
Based on the provided description, this refers to watersheds where monitoring is strong enough to support watershed-scale case studies and to link conservation practice implementation in grazing landscapes to observed or modeled changes in watershed health indicators.
What level of analysis was the program aiming for: field, farm, or watershed?
The solicitation emphasized watershed-scale outcomes and analysis, with a focus on how multiple practices work together across a watershed where grazing land use is a key driver of conditions.
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