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FAQs: FY 2013 Plants (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS PR 002)

What is the FY 2013 Plants grant opportunity (USDA NRCS PR 002)?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Caribbean Area, administered out of the Puerto Rico State Office. It sits under CFDA 10.905 (Plant Materials for Conservation) and supports applied plant materials work that addresses natural resource conservation problems.

What is the main purpose of this funding?

The core mission is to develop and deliver practical plant science technology that solves real conservation problems. Projects should use plants, planting systems, and related conservation methods to address issues such as resource degradation, habitat concerns, or other conservation needs, while taking into account real agricultural production conditions.

Is this grant focused on research, implementation, or both?

It is focused on applied work that can be put into real-world use. The Plant Materials Program emphasizes moving innovations from ideas and field trials into usable, adoptable tools and approaches that practitioners can implement and maintain, rather than research for its own sake.

What kinds of outcomes are expected from funded projects?

Projects are expected to produce outcomes that can be transferred into NRCS policy and day-to-day conservation practice. Examples mentioned include updates or additions to NRCS technical manuals, guides, references, and standard procedures, or broader adoption by the private sector.

What types of projects or activities are eligible under this opportunity?

The work must center on Plant Materials Conservation Projects or Activities and should cover the full arc of getting a conservation idea into real-world use. The notice describes activities such as development, field observation, validation, implementation, and monitoring.

Do proposed projects have to fit specific focus areas?

Yes. Projects must align with at least one stated focus area: (1) conservation adoption approaches (increasing uptake and effective use of conservation methods), (2) promising conservation technologies/practices/systems/procedures/approaches (new or improved practical methods), or (3) environmental soundness tied to environmental protection and natural resource enhancement (ecologically responsible approaches that improve resource conditions).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, private institutions of higher education, non-governmental organizations, and individuals.

Is there a geographic restriction on who can apply?

Yes. Applications are accepted only from the USDA Caribbean Area, which the notice defines as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Can applicants submit single-year or multi-year proposals?

NRCS will consider either single-year or multi-year proposals, but the project period cannot exceed three years.

What is the maximum project period allowed?

The project period may not exceed three years.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated for this opportunity.

How much funding is available?

The notice lists an estimated total funding amount of $28,000.

What are the minimum and maximum award amounts?

The public summary shows an award floor of $28,000 and an award ceiling of $28,000.

How many awards does NRCS expect to make?

The expected number of awards is listed as 5.

The funding numbers look inconsistent. What should applicants do?

The combination of (a) $28,000 total estimated funding, (b) an award floor and ceiling both listed as $28,000, and (c) an expected 5 awards suggests either very small awards, a structured allocation approach, or a data-entry inconsistency in the public summary. The notice indicates applicants typically should confirm award sizing and distribution by reviewing the full announcement or contacting the program office.

How are applications reviewed and selected?

NRCS uses a multi-step process. First, submissions are screened for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements; incomplete applications are removed from competition and the applicant is notified by mail. Complete applications received by the deadline are then evaluated by a technical peer review panel using the criteria described in the application instructions (referenced as Section V.B). Proposals and peer reviews go to a Review Board, which makes recommendations to the Caribbean Area NRCS Director, who makes the final funding selections.

What happens if an application is incomplete?

Incomplete applications are removed from competition, and the applicant is notified by mail.

What review criteria will be used?

The technical peer review panel uses the criteria described in the application instructions, referenced in the notice as Section V.B.

Who makes the final funding decision?

The Caribbean Area NRCS Director makes the final funding selections, based on recommendations that come through the Review Board after technical peer review.

What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The notice lists a posted date of July 30, 2013, an application deadline of August 23, 2013, and an archive date of September 22, 2013.

Who can be contacted for questions or help finding the full announcement?

The notice lists Jaime Valentin, Plant Materials Manager, as the contact for assistance accessing the full announcement or for program questions. The phone number provided is (787) 766-5206 ext. 121. An email address is referenced in the excerpt, but it is not fully provided.

Which USDA office is administering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered through the USDA NRCS Caribbean Area and administered out of the Puerto Rico State Office.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The notice places this opportunity under CFDA 10.905, Plant Materials for Conservation.