Opportunity Information: Apply for USDANRCSVT0902

  • The Vermont State Office in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Farm Viability Program for NRCS Vermont" 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 Jul 15, 2009 and posted on Jul 15, 2009.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 5, 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 $230,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $230,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
Apply for USDANRCSVT0902

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Opportunity Summary:

The Farm Viability Program for NRCS Vermont (Funding Opportunity Number USDANRCSVT0902) is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Vermont State Office grant opportunity designed to select a partner to build and run a Farm Viability Program that supports agricultural producers in Vermont. The core purpose is to provide eligible farmers and agricultural producers with voluntary assistance, either financial assistance, technical assistance, or a combination of both, to help strengthen the long-term viability of their farm operations. While the announcement language is brief, the intent is clear: NRCS is seeking an applicant that can administer a structured program on NRCSs behalf, delivering services directly to producers in a way that improves farm planning, business resilience, and the practical ability to adopt or maintain practices that sustain working lands.

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. In practical terms, that typically means the selected recipient would work in closer coordination with NRCS during program setup and delivery than under a more hands-off funding instrument. The recipient would be responsible for developing and administering the program, which commonly includes tasks like designing the assistance framework, defining eligibility and service delivery processes (consistent with the official announcement), conducting outreach to producers, managing participant intake, coordinating technical service providers, tracking deliverables, and reporting progress and outcomes back to NRCS. The program is explicitly voluntary for producers, emphasizing support and capacity-building rather than enforcement or regulatory compliance.

The funding is categorized under Agriculture and tied to CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation. The estimated total funding is $230,000, and the award ceiling is also $230,000, indicating NRCS expected to make a single award for up to that amount. The award floor is listed as $0, which usually signals that NRCS did not specify a minimum award size in the public listing, though the expectation of one award and the ceiling matching the total funding strongly suggests the program was structured around one primary recipient administering the full project scope.

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it was broadly open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility details that may have been included in the full announcement. In similar NRCS cooperative agreements, applicants can include nonprofits, educational institutions, state or local government entities, tribal organizations, and other qualified organizations with the capacity to manage federal funds and deliver agricultural support programming. Because this listing references additional eligibility clarification in the full text, applicants would have been expected to confirm any specific requirements there, such as demonstrated experience, partnerships, geographic coverage, or administrative and financial management capabilities.

Key administrative details from the notice include the posting date of July 15, 2009, with an application closing date of August 5, 2009, and an archive date of September 4, 2009. The opportunity did not require cost-sharing or matching funds, lowering the barrier to applying and allowing applicants to propose a program budget fully supported by federal funding, as permitted by the terms of the award. With only one expected award, the competition would likely have focused heavily on the applicants readiness to implement quickly, capacity to administer producer assistance responsibly, and ability to document outcomes aligned with NRCS conservation and farm sustainability goals.

For applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, the listed point of contact was Patricia Pickett, Contract Specialist, at 802-951-6795 (with an office email referenced but not provided in the excerpt). The notice directs prospective applicants to consult the full announcement and the separate application instructions (not included in the excerpt) for the definitive requirements, submission steps, and evaluation criteria.

Farm Viability Program for NRCS Vermont (USDANRCSVT0902) - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Farm Viability Program for NRCS Vermont (Funding Opportunity Number USDANRCSVT0902)?

It is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Vermont State Office funding opportunity to select one partner to build and run a Farm Viability Program that supports agricultural producers in Vermont.

What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The core purpose is to provide eligible farmers and agricultural producers with voluntary assistance (financial assistance, technical assistance, or a combination) to strengthen the long-term viability of their farm operations.

Who is the federal agency offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Vermont State Office.

Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which typically means closer coordination with NRCS during program setup and delivery.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

In practical terms, the selected recipient would generally be expected to work more closely with NRCS than under a more hands-off grant. The recipient would develop and administer the program on NRCS's behalf and coordinate implementation, tracking, and reporting with NRCS.

What kinds of assistance are intended for farmers and producers?

The program is intended to deliver voluntary assistance to eligible producers. The notice describes assistance as financial assistance, technical assistance, or both.

Is participation voluntary for producers?

Yes. The program is explicitly described as voluntary for producers, emphasizing support and capacity-building rather than enforcement or regulatory compliance.

What types of activities might the selected partner be responsible for?

The notice indicates the recipient would be responsible for developing and administering a structured program. Common responsibilities mentioned include designing the assistance framework, defining eligibility and service delivery processes (consistent with the official announcement), outreach to producers, managing participant intake, coordinating technical service providers, tracking deliverables, and reporting progress and outcomes to NRCS.

What issue area and funding category does this opportunity fall under?

The funding is categorized under Agriculture and is tied to CFDA (Assistance Listing) 10.902, Soil and Water Conservation.

What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?

10.902 (Soil and Water Conservation).

How much funding is available?

The estimated total funding is $230,000.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $230,000.

What is the minimum award amount (award floor)?

The award floor is listed as $0, which typically indicates that a minimum award size was not specified in the public listing.

How many awards does NRCS expect to make?

The notice suggests NRCS expected to make a single award, since the estimated total funding matches the award ceiling and the description indicates one primary recipient administering the full project scope.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it was broadly open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility details that may have been included in the full announcement.

Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean any organization can apply?

It indicates broad eligibility in the public listing, but applicants were expected to confirm any specific requirements in the full announcement text (for example, experience, partnerships, geographic coverage, and administrative/financial management capabilities).

What kinds of organizations might typically apply for similar NRCS cooperative agreements?

The notice notes that in similar NRCS cooperative agreements, applicants can include nonprofits, educational institutions, state or local government entities, tribal organizations, and other qualified organizations capable of managing federal funds and delivering agricultural support programming.

Is there a cost-share or matching requirement?

No. The opportunity did not require cost-sharing or matching funds, which can reduce barriers to applying.

What was the posting date?

July 15, 2009.

What was the application closing date?

August 5, 2009.

What was the archive date?

September 4, 2009.

Where would applicants find the definitive requirements and instructions?

The notice directs prospective applicants to consult the full announcement and the separate application instructions (not included in the excerpt) for definitive requirements, submission steps, and evaluation criteria.

What should applicants do if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?

The notice lists a point of contact for assistance: Patricia Pickett, Contract Specialist, at 802-951-6795. An office email is referenced but not provided in the excerpt.

Who is the point of contact listed in the notice?

Patricia Pickett, Contract Specialist.

What is the listed phone number for the point of contact?

802-951-6795.

Does the excerpt include the email address for the point of contact?

No. The excerpt notes that an office email was referenced, but it is not provided in the text shown.

What is NRCS looking for in a potential recipient, based on the notice?

Based on the description, the competition would likely focus on readiness to implement quickly, capacity to administer producer assistance responsibly, and ability to document outcomes aligned with NRCS conservation and farm sustainability goals.

What geographic area is the program meant to serve?

Vermont. The opportunity is offered by the NRCS Vermont State Office and is described as supporting agricultural producers in Vermont.

Does the excerpt specify exact evaluation criteria?

No. The notice states that evaluation criteria would be provided in the full announcement and separate application instructions, which are not included in the excerpt.

Does the excerpt list specific producer eligibility rules?

No. It states the purpose is to provide assistance to eligible farmers and agricultural producers, but producer eligibility details are not spelled out in the excerpt and would be expected in the full program materials.

Does the notice describe the program as focused on enforcement or compliance?

No. The program is described as voluntary and oriented toward support and capacity-building rather than enforcement or regulatory compliance.

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