Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS PR 1401
Apply for USDA NRCS PR 1401
- The Puerto Rico State Office in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Caribbean Area" 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 May 29, 2014 and posted on Apr 28, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 27, 2014 Revised the application package to modify/add additional state concerns. Extended the closing period to June 27, 2014. Applications may now be received by COB, 430pm, on June 27, 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 $190,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals County governments Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments For profit organizations other than small businesses State governments Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Caribbean Area opportunity is a competitive grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The purpose of the program is to spark the development, testing, and broader adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. In practice, this means NRCS is looking for projects that push beyond standard conservation practices and demonstrate new or improved methods that can be replicated or scaled to benefit natural resources and agricultural landscapes.
This specific announcement is limited to applicants located in the NRCS Caribbean Area, meaning proposals must come from Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. The NRCS Caribbean Area anticipated up to $190,000 total in FY 2014 funding for this competition, with an estimated five awards expected. Projects are intended to run between one and three years, emphasizing near-term demonstration and measurable outcomes rather than open-ended research. While the notice states that funds were not available at the time of posting, NRCS still solicited and evaluated applications under the terms of the announcement.
The funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS PR 1401) falls under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), CFDA 10.912, and is categorized as discretionary grant funding within a natural resources activity area. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should be prepared to contribute non-federal resources (cash and/or in-kind support, depending on the program rules) as part of the overall project budget. The announcement lists award ceiling and floor as $0, which typically indicates that specific per-award dollar limits were not stated in the summary field, not that awards would be zero; applicants would instead look to the full announcement for detailed budget parameters and allowable costs.
A wide range of applicant types are eligible, including individuals, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), city or township governments, county governments, state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, small businesses, and for-profit organizations that are not small businesses. This broad eligibility is designed to encourage innovation from many sectors, including producers, conservation organizations, academic partners, local governments, and private entities that can field-test and demonstrate practical conservation solutions.
Applications are screened first for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Any application deemed incomplete is removed from competition, and the applicant is notified by mail. This underscores that administrative accuracy matters: missing forms, signatures, required narratives, or budget elements can end consideration regardless of the project idea’s merit. The announcement also notes that the application package was revised to modify or add additional state concerns, suggesting that applicants needed to align proposals with priority resource issues identified for the Caribbean Area.
Key dates for this opportunity include an initial posting on April 28, 2014, with a closing date that was extended. The original closing date was May 30, 2014, but the deadline was revised to June 27, 2014, with applications accepted until close of business at 4:30 PM on June 27, 2014. The administering office is the Puerto Rico State Office (NRCS), and applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact Oriel Velez, Contracting Officer, at 787-766-5206 or oriel.velez@pr.usda.gov. An additional information link is referenced as the Caribbean Area website, where applicants would typically find full program guidance, required forms, and any local priorities or clarifications.
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Caribbean Area (USDA NRCS) - FAQs
What is the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Caribbean Area opportunity?
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Caribbean Area opportunity is a competitive grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It supports projects that develop, test, and help expand the adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The purpose is to spark innovation in conservation by funding projects that go beyond standard conservation practices. NRCS is looking for new or improved methods that can be demonstrated in real-world conditions and that can be replicated or scaled to benefit natural resources and agricultural landscapes.
Who is eligible to apply for this CIG Caribbean Area opportunity?
A wide range of applicants are eligible, including:
- Individuals
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- City or township governments
- County governments
- State governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- For-profit organizations that are not small businesses
Is this opportunity open nationwide?
No. This specific announcement is limited to applicants located in the NRCS Caribbean Area. Proposals must come from Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NRCS PR 1401.
What federal program is this grant associated with?
This funding opportunity falls under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and is listed under CFDA 10.912.
What type of funding is this?
It is a discretionary grant within a natural resources activity area.
How much total funding was anticipated for this competition?
The NRCS Caribbean Area anticipated up to $190,000 total in FY 2014 funding for this competition.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The announcement estimated about five awards.
How long are projects expected to last?
Projects are intended to run between one and three years.
What kind of projects is NRCS trying to fund with this opportunity?
NRCS is looking for projects that demonstrate innovative conservation approaches and technologies. The emphasis is on near-term demonstration and measurable outcomes, rather than open-ended research, and on approaches that can be replicated or scaled.
Is there a cost-share or matching requirement?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies. Applicants should be prepared to contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget, which may include cash and/or in-kind support depending on program rules.
The award ceiling and floor are listed as $0. Does that mean awards are zero dollars?
No. The announcement notes that an award ceiling and floor shown as $0 typically means specific per-award dollar limits were not stated in the summary field. Applicants would need to consult the full announcement for detailed budget parameters and allowable costs.
Were funds available when the notice was posted?
The notice states that funds were not available at the time of posting. Even so, NRCS still solicited and evaluated applications under the terms of the announcement.
How are applications reviewed or screened?
Applications are screened first for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Applications deemed incomplete are removed from competition, and the applicant is notified by mail.
What happens if an application is incomplete?
If an application is found incomplete, it is removed from competition and the applicant is notified by mail. Missing forms, signatures, required narratives, or budget elements can prevent an application from being considered.
Were there any revisions to the application package or priorities?
Yes. The announcement notes that the application package was revised to modify or add additional state concerns. Applicants were expected to align proposals with the priority resource issues identified for the NRCS Caribbean Area.
When was this opportunity posted?
The initial posting date was April 28, 2014.
What was the application deadline?
The closing date was extended. The original closing date was May 30, 2014, and it was revised to June 27, 2014.
What time were applications due on the final deadline?
Applications were accepted until close of business at 4:30 PM on June 27, 2014.
Which USDA NRCS office administers this opportunity?
The administering office is the Puerto Rico State Office (NRCS).
Who can applicants contact for help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact Oriel Velez, Contracting Officer, at 787-766-5206 or oriel.velez@pr.usda.gov.
Where can applicants look for additional guidance or local priorities?
An additional information link was referenced as the Caribbean Area website, where applicants would typically find full program guidance, required forms, and local priorities or clarifications.
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