Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS PR 001A
Apply for USDA NRCS PR 001A
- The Puerto Rico State Office in the agriculture environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2013 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 16, 2013 and posted on May 16, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $120,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: County governments Private institutions of higher education Individuals State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Special district governments City or township governments Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2013 CIG CARIBBEAN AREA opportunity is a discretionary grant competition offered through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Puerto Rico State Office under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, which is part of CFDA 10.912 (Environmental Quality Incentives Program). Its central aim is to speed up the real-world development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that improve environmental quality while supporting agricultural production. In practical terms, the program is looking for conservation solutions that are ready to be applied or demonstrated in the field, and that can reasonably be expected to move into wider use through NRCS guidance (such as policy, technical manuals, handbooks, and references) or through private-sector adoption.
A defining feature of this CIG announcement is what it will not support. It explicitly does not fund basic or exploratory research, and projects designed primarily to test hypotheses are not eligible. Instead, CIG is positioned as a bridge between proven or sufficiently studied conservation ideas and broad implementation. The intent is to fund projects that take a technology or conservation method that already shows a strong likelihood of success and apply it in a new way, a new setting, or at a demonstration scale so others can replicate it. The program also emphasizes knowledge-sharing across communities, governments, and institutions so that practical conservation improvements do not remain isolated but become accessible to more land managers and stakeholders.
The projects supported are expected to be on-the-ground efforts such as pilot projects and field demonstrations that showcase innovative conservation in action. Applications are accepted for single-year or multi-year projects, but the total project period cannot exceed three years. This particular competition is limited geographically to the NRCS Caribbean Area, specifically Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and only applicants from those locations are eligible to apply under this notice.
Eligibility is broad, covering federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state and local units of government (including county, city/township, and special district governments), nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, non-governmental organizations, individuals, small businesses, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and both public and private institutions of higher education. A cost-share or matching contribution is required, meaning applicants must bring non-federal resources to the project to leverage the federal investment rather than relying entirely on grant funds.
From a funding perspective, the announcement lists an estimated total funding amount of $120,000 for the competition. Individual awards have a ceiling of $30,000, and the listed award floor is $0, indicating there is no stated minimum award size. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity areas align with agriculture, environment, and natural resources. The opportunity was posted on May 16, 2013, with an application closing date of May 31, 2013, and it was archived on June 30, 2013.
The selection process is structured and compliance-driven. Applications are first screened for completeness and adherence to the notice requirements, and incomplete submissions are removed from consideration with elimination notices sent to applicants. Complete applications that meet the deadline move to evaluation by a technical peer review panel using the published application evaluation criteria referenced in the instructions (Section V.B). After technical review, applications and peer review findings are forwarded to a Review Board, which makes recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist. The NRCS State Conservationist makes the final funding selections, which underscores that strong technical scores matter, but final decisions also reflect agency priorities and leadership approval.
For applicants needing help obtaining the full announcement or accessing it electronically, the listed program contact is Jaime Valentin, CIG Program Manager, reachable by phone at 787-766-5206 ext. 121, with an email contact indicated in the notice. An additional information link is provided through the NRCS Caribbean home page. The formal opportunity identifier is Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS PR 001A, titled FY 2013 CIG CARIBBEAN AREA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - FY 2013 CIG Caribbean Area (USDA NRCS PR 001A)
1) What is the FY 2013 CIG Caribbean Area grant opportunity?
FY 2013 CIG Caribbean Area is a discretionary grant competition offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Puerto Rico State Office under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. It is part of CFDA 10.912, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
2) What is the main purpose of this CIG competition?
The purpose is to speed up the real-world development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that improve environmental quality while supporting agricultural production. The focus is on conservation solutions that are ready to be applied or demonstrated in the field and that can reasonably be expected to move into wider use through NRCS guidance or private-sector adoption.
3) What kinds of projects is NRCS looking to fund?
The competition is aimed at on-the-ground efforts such as pilot projects and field demonstrations that show innovative conservation in action. Projects should demonstrate practical conservation improvements that others can replicate.
4) What does the program mean by "innovation" in this notice?
Based on the notice, innovation is not early-stage exploration. It is the use of a conservation approach or technology that already shows a strong likelihood of success, applied in a new way, in a new setting, or at a demonstration scale so it can be adopted more broadly.
5) Does this opportunity fund basic research or hypothesis testing?
No. The announcement explicitly states it does not fund basic or exploratory research, and projects designed primarily to test hypotheses are not eligible.
6) If not basic research, where does CIG fit in the development pipeline?
This CIG announcement is positioned as a bridge between proven or sufficiently studied conservation ideas and broad implementation. It is intended to move workable approaches into practical demonstration and adoption rather than to support exploratory research.
7) Where must projects take place to be eligible under this notice?
This competition is limited to the NRCS Caribbean Area, specifically Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
8) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: federally recognized Native American tribal governments; state and local units of government (including county, city/township, and special district governments); nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; non-governmental organizations; individuals; small businesses; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and public and private institutions of higher education.
9) Are applicants outside Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands eligible?
No. The notice states that only applicants from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are eligible to apply under this particular competition.
10) Is a cost-share or match required?
Yes. A cost-share or matching contribution is required. Applicants must bring non-federal resources to the project to leverage the federal investment rather than relying entirely on grant funds.
11) What is the estimated total funding available for this competition?
The announcement lists an estimated total funding amount of $120,000.
12) What is the maximum award amount per grant?
The ceiling for individual awards is $30,000.
13) Is there a minimum award amount?
The listed award floor is $0, which indicates there is no stated minimum award size in the announcement.
14) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
15) What activity areas does this opportunity align with?
The activity areas align with agriculture, environment, and natural resources.
16) How long can a project last?
Applications may be for single-year or multi-year projects, but the total project period cannot exceed three years.
17) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 16, 2013. The application closing date was May 31, 2013.
18) Is this opportunity still open?
No. The notice indicates it was archived on June 30, 2013.
19) What happens if an application is incomplete or does not follow the notice requirements?
Applications are screened for completeness and adherence to the notice requirements. Incomplete submissions are removed from consideration, and elimination notices are sent to applicants.
20) How are complete applications evaluated?
Complete applications received by the deadline move to evaluation by a technical peer review panel using the published application evaluation criteria referenced in the instructions (Section V.B).
21) What happens after technical peer review?
After technical review, applications and peer review findings are forwarded to a Review Board, which makes recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist.
22) Who makes the final funding selections?
The NRCS State Conservationist makes the final funding selections.
23) Does a strong technical review guarantee funding?
The process described indicates that technical scores matter, but final decisions also reflect agency priorities and leadership approval by the NRCS State Conservationist.
24) What is the opportunity identifier and title?
The formal identifier is Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS PR 001A, titled "FY 2013 CIG CARIBBEAN AREA."
25) Who is the listed program contact for questions or help accessing the full announcement?
The listed contact is Jaime Valentin, CIG Program Manager. The phone number provided is 787-766-5206 ext. 121, and an email contact is indicated in the notice.
26) Is there an official place mentioned to find additional information?
Yes. The notice mentions an additional information link through the NRCS Caribbean home page.
27) What is the program trying to achieve beyond funding individual projects?
The announcement emphasizes knowledge-sharing across communities, governments, and institutions so practical conservation improvements do not remain isolated and can become accessible to more land managers and stakeholders.
28) What is an example of a project approach that fits this notice, based on the description?
Based on the notice language, a strong fit would be a field demonstration or pilot that applies an already promising conservation technology or method in a new setting within Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, with a clear path to broader adoption through NRCS guidance or private-sector uptake.
29) What is an example of a project approach that would not fit this notice?
Based on the exclusions stated, a project focused on basic or exploratory research or one designed primarily to test hypotheses would not be eligible.
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