Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS CA 09 02
Apply for USDA NRCS CA 09 02
- The California State Office in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Innovation Grants FY 2009 NRCS California" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902 Soil and Water Conservation.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 15, 2009 and posted on Apr 15, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 22, 2009 Applications must be received not later than 500 pm local time. Applications received after that time will not be considered. Proposals will not be accepted by facsimile.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $375,000.00 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 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Special district governments City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) FY 2009 opportunity from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Office is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation) designed to support innovative conservation technologies and approaches in agricultural settings. NRCS indicated it expected to make up to eight awards under this announcement, selecting proposals based on the quality of submissions and the conservation benefits they are expected to produce. The total funding available for this California competition was listed as $375,000, and projects could be structured as either single-year or multi-year efforts, with an overall project period of up to three years.
Individual awards were capped at a $75,000 federal contribution, with a stated award floor of $20,000. A key feature of this solicitation is its required cost share: applicants must provide at least a 50 percent match using nonfederal contributions. Within that match, up to half of the nonfederal portion can be provided as in-kind contributions (for example, donated labor, services, equipment use, or other non-cash resources that directly support the project), while the remaining part of the match must be provided as cash. There is an important flexibility exception for beginning farmers and ranchers, limited resource farmers and ranchers, and federally recognized Indian tribes: for those groups, up to 75 percent of the nonfederal match may be provided in-kind, reducing the cash needed while still maintaining the overall matching requirement.
Eligibility and participation requirements are tied closely to EQIP (the Environmental Quality Incentives Program). To be eligible, projects must involve landowners who meet EQIP eligibility requirements (referenced in the notice as 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-1). In addition, any agricultural producers who receive direct or indirect payments through participation in a CIG project must also meet EQIP eligibility requirements, even though they do not need to already have an EQIP contract. Applications were expected to clearly describe how EQIP-eligible producers will participate and to what extent, since producer involvement is a core condition of the program.
The solicitation emphasizes that CIG is intended to fund innovation rather than routine implementation of practices already supported through EQIP. If a technology or approach is already eligible for funding through EQIP within the project area, it is generally not eligible for CIG support unless the applicant can demonstrate that the proposed use is clearly innovative. The applicant bears the responsibility to explain what is new, different, or improved about the technology or approach and why it represents innovation beyond standard EQIP implementation. The announcement directs applicants to consult the California EQIP Eligible Practices List (via the NRCS EQIP website) so they can distinguish between standard eligible practices and innovations that could qualify for CIG.
Another practical requirement is that the grantee is responsible for providing the technical assistance needed to implement and complete the project successfully. In other words, applicants should plan for how the project will be supported in the field, including any expertise, training, planning, installation oversight, monitoring, or evaluation needed to deliver the proposed outcomes. The full announcement also contains additional submission instructions and environmental review requirements that applicants must follow, which is typical for federal conservation projects that may involve on-the-ground activities.
On budgeting and administration, applicants intending to charge indirect costs were required to include an approved indirect cost rate agreement with their application. Even with an approved rate, indirect costs were limited to no more than 15 percent of the federal contribution, meaning the overhead charged to the federal share could not exceed that threshold.
The application window for this FY 2009 California CIG competition opened on April 15, 2009, with a closing deadline of May 22, 2009. Applications had to be received no later than 5:00 pm local time, and late submissions were not considered. The announcement also specified that proposals would not be accepted by facsimile. For applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically, the listed contact was Ray Miller, Contract Specialist, at 530-792-5679 or ray.miller@ca.usda.gov. Eligible applicant types were broad and included individuals, state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, special districts), nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, small businesses, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - USDA NRCS California Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) FY 2009
What is this grant opportunity?
The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) FY 2009 opportunity from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Office is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation). It is intended to support innovative conservation technologies and approaches in agricultural settings.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding opportunity is offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), California State Office.
How many awards did NRCS expect to make?
NRCS indicated it expected to make up to eight awards under this announcement, based on the quality of proposals and the conservation benefits expected from the projects.
How much total funding was available for this California competition?
The total funding available for the California competition was listed as $375,000.
What is the minimum and maximum award size?
The federal contribution per award had an award floor of $20,000 and a cap of $75,000.
How long can a project last?
Projects could be structured as either single-year or multi-year efforts, with an overall project period of up to three years.
Is cost share required?
Yes. Applicants must provide at least a 50 percent match using nonfederal contributions.
How can the required nonfederal match be provided?
The match must be nonfederal. Up to half of the nonfederal portion can be provided as in-kind contributions (such as donated labor, services, equipment use, or other non-cash resources that directly support the project). The remaining part of the match must be provided as cash.
Is there any flexibility in the cash vs. in-kind split for certain applicants or participants?
Yes. For beginning farmers and ranchers, limited resource farmers and ranchers, and federally recognized Indian tribes, up to 75 percent of the nonfederal match may be provided in-kind. This reduces the cash needed while still maintaining the overall matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicant types included individuals; state and local governments (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts); nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; small businesses; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Are there special eligibility requirements tied to EQIP?
Yes. To be eligible, projects must involve landowners who meet EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) eligibility requirements (referenced as 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-1 in the notice).
Do agricultural producers participating in the project need to meet EQIP eligibility requirements?
Yes. Any agricultural producers who receive direct or indirect payments through participation in a CIG project must meet EQIP eligibility requirements, even if they do not already have an EQIP contract.
Do producers need to already have an EQIP contract to be involved?
No. The notice states producers receiving direct or indirect payments must meet EQIP eligibility requirements, but they do not need to already have an EQIP contract.
What must an application say about producer participation?
Applications were expected to clearly describe how EQIP-eligible producers will participate and to what extent, since producer involvement is a core condition of the program.
Does CIG fund routine conservation practices already supported through EQIP?
The solicitation emphasizes that CIG is intended to fund innovation rather than routine implementation of practices already supported through EQIP.
What if the technology or approach is already eligible for EQIP funding in the project area?
If a technology or approach is already eligible for funding through EQIP within the project area, it is generally not eligible for CIG support unless the applicant can demonstrate that the proposed use is clearly innovative.
Who is responsible for explaining why a project is innovative?
The applicant is responsible for explaining what is new, different, or improved about the technology or approach and why it represents innovation beyond standard EQIP implementation.
Does the announcement recommend any resource to help determine whether a practice is already EQIP-eligible?
Yes. Applicants were directed to consult the California EQIP Eligible Practices List via the NRCS EQIP website to distinguish between standard eligible practices and innovations that could qualify for CIG.
Who provides technical assistance for project implementation?
The grantee is responsible for providing the technical assistance needed to implement and complete the project successfully. Applicants should plan for field support such as expertise, training, planning, installation oversight, monitoring, and evaluation needed to deliver outcomes.
Are there additional submission instructions or environmental review requirements?
Yes. The full announcement contains additional submission instructions and environmental review requirements that applicants must follow, which is typical for federal conservation projects involving on-the-ground activities.
Can indirect costs be charged to the grant?
Applicants intending to charge indirect costs were required to include an approved indirect cost rate agreement with their application.
Is there a limit on indirect costs?
Yes. Even with an approved rate, indirect costs were limited to no more than 15 percent of the federal contribution.
When did the application period open and close?
The application window opened on April 15, 2009 and closed on May 22, 2009.
What was the submission deadline time?
Applications had to be received no later than 5:00 pm local time. Late submissions were not considered.
Were applications accepted by fax?
No. The announcement specified that proposals would not be accepted by facsimile.
Who should applicants contact if they could not access the full announcement electronically?
Applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically were directed to contact Ray Miller, Contract Specialist, at 530-792-5679 or ray.miller@ca.usda.gov.
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