Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NH 14 0002
Apply for USDA NRCS NH 14 0002
- The California State Office in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Innovation Grant New Hampshire" 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 Jun 11, 2014 and posted on Jun 11, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 11, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $75,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments State governments Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Individuals City or township governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for New Hampshire is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) competitive grant program designed to push practical, on-the-ground conservation forward by helping people adopt innovative approaches and technologies that improve environmental outcomes while supporting agricultural production. In FY 2014, NRCS expected about $75,000 total to support this New Hampshire funding round (noted as the second chance to apply in NH that fiscal year). The program sits under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) authority, and projects funded through CIG must directly benefit EQIP-eligible individuals or entities in New Hampshire. Awards are made as cooperative agreements, and the notice indicates cost sharing or matching is required.
A key point in this announcement is what CIG is and is not meant to fund. CIG is not a basic research program and it is not meant for hypothesis-driven research projects. Instead, it is meant to bridge the gap between earlier research and real-world adoption. NRCS is looking for proposals that apply, demonstrate, evaluate, implement, and monitor conservation technologies or approaches that already have a strong foundation and a high likelihood of working. The expectation is that projects will generate usable field data and lessons learned, and that successful outcomes can be transferred into NRCS technical guidance (like manuals and standards), integrated into NRCS policy, or otherwise adopted broadly by the private sector. In other words, the emphasis is on proven or well-studied practices being adapted and demonstrated in a way that makes them easier, more affordable, and more likely to be adopted at scale.
Projects can run from one to three years and must comply with all federal, state, and local regulations during the project period. NRCS highlights that strong proposals will demonstrate measurable environmental benefits across areas such as soil, water, air, plants, energy, and animals, and will show the utility, affordability, and usability of the approach under real field conditions. The program is also open to ideas that adapt conservation systems to improve performance, introduce approaches that have worked in other regions or agricultural sectors, or clearly show that the knowledge and methods can be transferred and replicated beyond the initial project sites.
For New Hampshire in FY 2014, the state-specific priority areas were Plant Materials and Nitrogen Management. Under Plant Materials, NRCS particularly emphasized cover crop innovations and pollinator habitat enhancement. Examples of prioritized cover crop concepts included innovative establishment methods (such as aerial seeding or manure slurry seeding), evaluating multi-species cover crop mixes to improve soil health, and timing and variety trials. For pollinator habitat enhancement, the focus was on seeding trials and establishment techniques. Under Nitrogen Management, NRCS prioritized projects that evaluate enhanced efficiency fertilizer products (like inhibitors or slow/delayed release products) in terms of yield and nutrient use efficiency, develop or demonstrate adaptive nitrogen management strategies, test alternative liquid manure handling and management systems to reduce nitrogen loss, and implement active methods that better capture nitrogen in manure systems so that manure nutrients can be recycled more effectively and potentially replace some synthetic fertilizer use.
Eligibility is broad and includes federally recognized Indian Tribes, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), nonprofits including 501(c)(3) organizations, small businesses, private institutions of higher education, and individuals. The competitive process is explicitly two-phased at the state level: first, applicants submit a pre-proposal, which NRCS screens for completeness and compliance and then evaluates for alignment with innovation and the stated priorities. Only applicants whose pre-proposals are selected are invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals are then evaluated through a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria referenced in the application instructions. Applications that are incomplete are removed from consideration, and applicants are notified by mail if eliminated at the screening stage.
The timeline in the notice is specific. Pre-proposals had to be received by 4:00 p.m. on July 11, 2014. NRCS planned to announce which pre-proposals were selected by July 18, 2014. Those selected applicants then had to submit full proposal packages by 4:00 p.m. on August 8, 2014. Submission could be done by mail or courier to Dr. Brandon Smith at USDA NRCS in Durham, New Hampshire, or electronically via Grants.gov or by email to the coordinator. The notice lists an anticipated two awards, with an award floor of $25,000 and an award ceiling up to $75,000, reflecting the small statewide funding pool and the likelihood of funding a limited number of projects with meaningful demonstration scope.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for New Hampshire?
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for New Hampshire is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) competitive grant program intended to advance practical, on-the-ground conservation by helping people adopt innovative approaches and technologies that improve environmental outcomes while supporting agricultural production.
Which fiscal year and funding round does this notice describe?
This notice describes the New Hampshire CIG opportunity for FY 2014 and notes it as the second chance to apply in New Hampshire during that fiscal year.
How much total funding was expected to be available in New Hampshire for this round?
NRCS expected about $75,000 total to support the New Hampshire funding round described in the notice.
How many awards were anticipated, and what were the minimum and maximum award amounts?
The notice anticipated approximately two awards. The award floor was $25,000, and the award ceiling was up to $75,000.
What type of award does NRCS make under this opportunity?
Awards are made as cooperative agreements.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The notice indicates that cost sharing or matching is required.
What is the program authority for CIG?
The CIG program sits under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) authority.
Who must benefit from projects funded through this New Hampshire CIG opportunity?
Projects funded through CIG in this notice must directly benefit EQIP-eligible individuals or entities in New Hampshire.
Is CIG a basic research program?
No. CIG is not a basic research program and is not intended to fund hypothesis-driven research projects.
What kinds of projects is NRCS looking for under CIG?
NRCS is looking for proposals that apply, demonstrate, evaluate, implement, and monitor conservation technologies or approaches that already have a strong foundation and a high likelihood of working. The emphasis is on bridging the gap between earlier research and real-world adoption.
What kinds of results are expected from funded projects?
The expectation is that projects will generate usable field data and lessons learned. Successful outcomes should be transferable into NRCS technical guidance (such as manuals and standards), integrated into NRCS policy, or otherwise adopted broadly by the private sector.
What is the typical project period for this opportunity?
Projects can run from one to three years.
What compliance requirements apply during the project period?
Projects must comply with all federal, state, and local regulations during the project period.
What environmental benefit areas does NRCS highlight for strong proposals?
NRCS highlights measurable environmental benefits across areas such as soil, water, air, plants, energy, and animals.
What characteristics make a proposal strong according to the notice?
Strong proposals are expected to show measurable environmental benefits and demonstrate the utility, affordability, and usability of the approach under real field conditions.
Does NRCS encourage projects that can be replicated beyond the initial sites?
Yes. The notice emphasizes transferability and replication, including approaches that can be adopted broadly beyond the initial project sites.
Can projects introduce practices that have worked in other regions or agricultural sectors?
Yes. The program is open to ideas that introduce approaches that have worked in other regions or agricultural sectors, as long as they can be demonstrated and transferred effectively.
What were the New Hampshire state-specific priority areas for FY 2014?
For New Hampshire in FY 2014, the state-specific priority areas were Plant Materials and Nitrogen Management.
What topics were emphasized under the Plant Materials priority area?
Under Plant Materials, NRCS particularly emphasized cover crop innovations and pollinator habitat enhancement.
What cover crop concepts were specifically prioritized?
Examples of prioritized cover crop concepts included innovative establishment methods (such as aerial seeding or manure slurry seeding), evaluating multi-species cover crop mixes to improve soil health, and timing and variety trials.
What was prioritized for pollinator habitat enhancement?
For pollinator habitat enhancement, the focus was on seeding trials and establishment techniques.
What topics were emphasized under the Nitrogen Management priority area?
Under Nitrogen Management, NRCS prioritized projects that: evaluate enhanced efficiency fertilizer products (such as inhibitors or slow/delayed release products) in terms of yield and nutrient use efficiency; develop or demonstrate adaptive nitrogen management strategies; test alternative liquid manure handling and management systems to reduce nitrogen loss; and implement active methods to better capture nitrogen in manure systems so nutrients can be recycled more effectively and potentially replace some synthetic fertilizer use.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes federally recognized Indian Tribes, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), nonprofits including 501(c)(3) organizations, small businesses, private institutions of higher education, and individuals.
Is the application process competitive?
Yes. This is a competitive grant program.
Is there a pre-proposal requirement?
Yes. The state-level process is explicitly two-phased. Applicants must first submit a pre-proposal.
How are pre-proposals reviewed?
NRCS screens pre-proposals for completeness and compliance and then evaluates them for alignment with innovation and the stated New Hampshire priorities.
Do all pre-proposal applicants get to submit a full proposal?
No. Only applicants whose pre-proposals are selected are invited to submit a full proposal.
How are full proposals evaluated?
Full proposals are evaluated through a technical peer review panel using the evaluation criteria referenced in the application instructions.
What happens if an application package is incomplete?
Applications that are incomplete are removed from consideration. Applicants are notified by mail if eliminated at the screening stage.
What was the deadline for pre-proposals?
Pre-proposals had to be received by 4:00 p.m. on July 11, 2014.
When did NRCS plan to announce selected pre-proposals?
NRCS planned to announce which pre-proposals were selected by July 18, 2014.
What was the deadline for full proposals for selected applicants?
Selected applicants had to submit full proposal packages by 4:00 p.m. on August 8, 2014.
How could applicants submit materials?
Submission could be done by mail or courier to Dr. Brandon Smith at USDA NRCS in Durham, New Hampshire, or electronically via Grants.gov or by email to the coordinator.
Where were mail or courier submissions directed?
The notice directed mail or courier submissions to Dr. Brandon Smith at USDA NRCS in Durham, New Hampshire.
What is the overall purpose of this New Hampshire CIG funding round?
The overall purpose is to support demonstration-focused conservation innovation in New Hampshire that is ready for field application and wider adoption, producing practical data and lessons learned that can inform NRCS guidance, policy, or private-sector adoption.
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