Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS IA CIG 16 01
Apply for USDA NRCS IA CIG 16 01
- The USDA-NRCS-UTSO in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Iowa Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year 2016" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 03, 2016 and posted on May 03, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 03, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Iowa Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Fiscal Year 2016 opportunity is a competitive grant program offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to encourage practical, on-the-ground conservation innovations in Iowa. The program is designed to speed up the development and wider adoption of improved conservation approaches and technologies that protect natural resources while working alongside agricultural production. In FY 2016, NRCS anticipated up to $500,000 total funding available for Iowa projects, with an expected seven awards and a maximum award size (ceiling) of $75,000 per grant. Projects can run for one to three years, but cannot exceed three years.
CIG’s core purpose is not basic research, but the real-world application, demonstration, and scaling of conservation practices that have already shown promise. NRCS is looking for proposals that help move proven or emerging conservation strategies into broader use, including through pilot projects and field demonstrations that farmers, land managers, and communities can actually adopt. A key expectation is that successful projects will produce outcomes that can be transferred into NRCS technical manuals and guides or otherwise made available to the private sector, meaning the work should be replicable and useful beyond a single site or participant group. The program also emphasizes collaboration and knowledge-sharing so that tools, methods, and lessons learned are accessible to more people and organizations across different communities and institutions.
While the program generally does not fund research, it makes a specific exception for on-farm conservation research. This exception is tightly defined: the research must address a clear conservation question using a statistically valid design, include appropriate replication, and analyze results with sound statistical methods, all while using farm-scale equipment on actual farm fields. Even then, NRCS indicates it will only support research that directly stimulates innovative natural resource management approaches connected to agricultural production, reinforcing the program’s practical, adoption-focused mission rather than laboratory or purely academic investigation.
Eligibility is broad and includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state and local governmental units (such as counties, cities, townships, and special districts), public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations including 501(c)(3) entities, individuals, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, for-profit organizations (including small businesses and those other than small businesses), and other qualifying applicants listed in the notice. The funding instrument is a grant, the opportunity is categorized under agriculture, environment, and natural resources, and it falls under CFDA 10.912. The opportunity number is USDA NRCS IA CIG 16 01, and it was posted May 3, 2016, with an application deadline of June 3, 2016.
The selection process is structured and competitive. NRCS first screens submissions for basic completeness and compliance with the notice requirements; proposals that are incomplete or noncompliant are removed from consideration and applicants are notified. Complete proposals are then evaluated by a technical peer review panel using published proposal evaluation criteria referenced in the solicitation instructions. After peer review, proposals and reviews move to the Iowa Review Board, which provides recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist. The State Conservationist makes the final funding selections, meaning projects must be both technically strong and aligned with Iowa and NRCS conservation priorities to be competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Iowa Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) FY 2016
What is the Iowa Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) FY 2016 opportunity?
The Iowa Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Fiscal Year 2016 opportunity is a competitive grant program offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is intended to encourage practical, on-the-ground conservation innovations in Iowa that protect natural resources while working alongside agricultural production.
What is the main purpose of this CIG program?
The program is designed to speed up the development and wider adoption of improved conservation approaches and technologies. The emphasis is on real-world application, demonstration, and scaling of conservation practices that have already shown promise, rather than basic research.
How much total funding was anticipated for Iowa projects in FY 2016?
NRCS anticipated up to $500,000 in total funding available for Iowa projects under this FY 2016 opportunity.
How many awards were expected to be made?
NRCS expected to make about seven awards for Iowa projects under this funding opportunity.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) per grant?
The maximum award size (ceiling) is $75,000 per grant.
How long can a funded project run?
Projects can run for one to three years, but they cannot exceed three years.
Is this grant intended to fund basic research?
No. The core purpose of CIG is not basic research. The focus is on implementing, demonstrating, and expanding conservation practices and technologies in real-world settings so they can be adopted broadly.
What kinds of activities or outcomes is NRCS looking for?
NRCS is looking for proposals that help move proven or emerging conservation strategies into broader use. This can include pilot projects and field demonstrations that farmers, land managers, and communities can actually adopt. A key expectation is that successful projects generate outcomes that can be transferred into NRCS technical manuals and guides or otherwise made available to the private sector, meaning the results should be replicable and useful beyond a single site or participant group.
Does the program emphasize collaboration or sharing results?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes collaboration and knowledge-sharing so that tools, methods, and lessons learned can be accessible to people and organizations across different communities and institutions.
Is any research allowed under this opportunity?
While the program generally does not fund research, it makes a specific exception for on-farm conservation research. This exception is narrowly defined and tied to practical, adoption-focused conservation outcomes.
What qualifies as allowable on-farm conservation research under the exception?
To qualify under the on-farm research exception, the research must address a clear conservation question using a statistically valid design, include appropriate replication, and analyze results using sound statistical methods. It must also be conducted with farm-scale equipment on actual farm fields. NRCS indicates it will only support research that directly stimulates innovative natural resource management approaches connected to agricultural production.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments; state and local governmental units (such as counties, cities, townships, and special districts); public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations including 501(c)(3) entities; individuals; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; for-profit organizations (including small businesses and those other than small businesses); and other qualifying applicants listed in the notice.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument for this opportunity is a grant.
What category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under agriculture, environment, and natural resources.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 10.912.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is USDA NRCS IA CIG 16 01.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 3, 2016.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was June 3, 2016.
How are applications selected for funding?
The selection process is structured and competitive. NRCS first screens submissions for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Incomplete or noncompliant proposals are removed from consideration and applicants are notified. Complete proposals are evaluated by a technical peer review panel using published proposal evaluation criteria referenced in the solicitation instructions. After peer review, proposals and reviews go to the Iowa Review Board, which provides recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist. The State Conservationist makes the final funding selections.
What happens if an application is incomplete or does not follow the notice requirements?
NRCS screens submissions for basic completeness and compliance. Proposals that are incomplete or noncompliant are removed from consideration, and applicants are notified.
Who makes the final decision on awards?
The NRCS State Conservationist makes the final funding selections, based on peer review results and recommendations from the Iowa Review Board.
What does it mean that projects must be replicable and useful beyond a single site?
It means NRCS is looking for outcomes that can be transferred into NRCS technical manuals and guides or otherwise made available to the private sector. In practical terms, the work should be designed so that other farms, land managers, organizations, or communities can adopt the approach, rather than producing a one-off result that only works for one location or a single participant group.
Does the opportunity indicate whether projects should align with Iowa and NRCS priorities?
Yes. The final selection is made by the NRCS State Conservationist, and the process indicates that projects must be technically strong and aligned with Iowa and NRCS conservation priorities to be competitive.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Virginia Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS VA CIG 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VA CIG 16 01 Agency: USDA-NRCS Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Rhode Island Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI CIG 16 01 Agency: USDA-NRCS Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| South Dakota Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS SD CIG 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS SD CIG 16 01 Agency: USDA-NRCS Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: Water for Agriculture Challenge Area Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 005822 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 005822 Agency: USDA-NIFA Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Arkansas CIG Announcement for FY2016 Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR CIG 16 01 Agency: USDA-NRCS Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Illinois Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement Fiscal Year 2016 Apply for USDA NRCS IL ACEP 16 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS IL ACEP 16 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| 2017 National Conservation Innovation Grants APF Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Maine - Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS ME 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ME 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Ohio Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS OH CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS OH CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Arkansas Conservation Innovation Grant 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant (FY) 2017 Announcement for Program Funding Apply for USDA NRCS NJ CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NJ CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, New Jersey State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| North Dakota Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS ND CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ND CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Regional Conservation Partnership Program Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 18 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 18 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Kansas Conservation Innovation Grants FY 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS KS CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS KS CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Washington State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Iowa Conservation Collaboration Grants - Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS IA CCG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS IA CCG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS ID CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS ID CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS PR CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS PR CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS NM CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NM CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| New Hampshire Conservation Innovation Grants - Fiscal Year 2017 Apply for USDA NRCS NH CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NH CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utah State Office Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 17 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI CIG 17 01 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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