Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS PIA SLCIG 15 001
Apply for USDA NRCS PIA SLCIG 15 001
- The Pacific Island Area State Office in the agriculture energy environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pacific Islands Area State Component CIG" 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 Mar 30, 2015 and posted on Mar 30, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 24, 2015 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY Natural Resources Conservation Service, Commodity Credit Corporation ACTION NOTICE Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Announcement for Program Funding Pacific Islands Area (Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 10.912 SUMMARY The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Proposals will be accepted from Pacific Islands Area (Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2015 will be up to 150,000. Proposals are requested from eligible governmental or non governmental organizations or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between 1 and 3 years in duration. Funds will be awarded through a two phase Pacific Islands Area wide competitive grants process that will include (1) a pre proposal process and (2) a full proposal process. The full proposal process will only be open to applicants whose pre proposals are selected by NRCS. Both phases are described in this announcement, but only pre proposals are being solicited at this time. This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions for CIG projects. Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant. NRCS will request a full proposal package only from those applicants selected in the pre proposal phase. DATES Pre proposals must be received by NRCS before 1200 p.m. noon, Hawaii Standard Time (HST) on Friday, April 24, 2015. NRCS will announce selected pre proposals by May 15, 2015. Selected applicants will then be required to submit a full proposal package to NRCS by 1200 p.m. noon HST on Friday, June 19, 2015. ADDRESSES Proposals may be sent via express mail or overnight courier service using one of the following methods. Express Mail USDA NRCS, CIG Program, Nicola Giardina, 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Room 4 118, Honolulu, HI 96850 United States Postal Service USDA NRCS, CIG Program Nicola Giardina P.O. Box 50004, Honolulu, HI 96850 0050 Applicants must submit three (3) paper copies of the application and an electronic copy provided via e mail address. The address for submitting an application by e mail is nicola.giardina@hi.usda.gov . FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Nicola Giardina, State EQIP Program Manager 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 4 118 Honolulu, HI 96850 Phone (808) 541 2600 ext. 155 E mail nicola.giardina@hi.usda.gov. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000.00 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 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Individuals Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments State governments Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Pacific Islands Area State Component Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) competitive grant program designed to spark new, practical conservation ideas and help move them into real-world use. The FY 2015 announcement targets applicants working in the Pacific Islands Area, specifically Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The overall purpose is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that support natural resource protection and improvement in agricultural and related landscapes. This opportunity sits under CFDA 10.912, tied to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and it supports projects that generally connect agriculture with conservation outcomes in areas like soil, water, air, energy, and broader environmental and natural resource concerns.
Funding for the Pacific Islands Area competition in FY 2015 was anticipated to total up to $150,000, with NRCS expecting to make about two awards. Individual awards were projected to range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $75,000. Projects could run from one to three years, giving applicants room to pilot, test, refine, and demonstrate approaches that can be replicated beyond a single site. A key feature of this grant is that it requires cost sharing or matching, meaning recipients are expected to contribute non-federal resources (cash and/or eligible in-kind support) to help carry out the work and extend the impact of federal funds.
The application process was structured as a two-phase competition across the Pacific Islands Area. First, applicants submitted a pre-proposal, and NRCS screened submissions for completeness and compliance with the announcement requirements. Only those applicants whose pre-proposals were selected were invited to move forward to the second phase and submit a full proposal package. This staged approach is meant to reduce the burden on both applicants and reviewers by narrowing the field before requiring full, detailed applications. Incomplete or noncompliant submissions were removed from consideration, and NRCS indicated it would notify applicants if their package was eliminated at that stage.
Eligibility was broad and included both governmental and non-governmental applicants, as well as individuals. Eligible applicant types listed in the announcement included 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), city or township governments, county governments, state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and individuals. This range allows partnerships among community organizations, local and territorial governments, universities, and producers or technical innovators, which fits the program goal of moving workable conservation innovations into wider adoption.
For FY 2015, the pre-proposal deadline was set for 12:00 p.m. (noon) Hawaii Standard Time on Friday, April 24, 2015. NRCS planned to announce which pre-proposals were selected by May 15, 2015. Applicants invited to proceed then had to submit a complete full proposal package by 12:00 p.m. (noon) HST on Friday, June 19, 2015. The announcement itself was posted on March 30, 2015, and the opportunity was later archived on May 24, 2015, reflecting the close of the solicitation window.
Submission instructions emphasized a hybrid paper-and-electronic approach. Applicants were required to submit three paper copies of the application and also provide an electronic copy via email. Packages could be sent by express mail or overnight courier to USDA NRCS, CIG Program, attention Nicola Giardina, 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Room 4-118, Honolulu, HI 96850, or by U.S. Postal Service to P.O. Box 50004, Honolulu, HI 96850-0050. The electronic copy was to be emailed to nicola.giardina@hi.usda.gov. The primary point of contact listed for program questions was Nicola Giardina, State EQIP Program Manager, at (808) 541-2600 ext. 155, using the same email address. For accessibility issues obtaining the full announcement electronically, the notice also referenced Jason Peel, Assistant Director, at (808) 541-2600.
In practical terms, this grant opportunity was a relatively small, highly competitive funding round focused on piloting or demonstrating conservation innovations suited to Pacific Island conditions and needs. With only about two expected awards and a capped total pool, the program was geared toward targeted, well-justified projects that could show measurable conservation benefits and a clear path to broader adoption after the grant period, supported by a required match and a structured pre-proposal-to-full-proposal selection process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Pacific Islands Area State Component Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity?
It is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) competitive grant program designed to stimulate new, practical conservation ideas and help move them into real-world use. The focus is on developing and adopting innovative conservation approaches and technologies that improve natural resource protection in agricultural and related landscapes.
Which geographic areas are covered by this FY 2015 Pacific Islands Area competition?
The FY 2015 announcement targets applicants working in the Pacific Islands Area, specifically Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
What is the overall purpose of this grant program?
The purpose is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that support natural resource protection and improvement in agricultural and related landscapes, with connections to concerns such as soil, water, air, energy, and other environmental and natural resource issues.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.912.
How is this CIG opportunity related to EQIP?
The announcement indicates the opportunity is tied to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
How much funding was anticipated for the Pacific Islands Area competition in FY 2015?
Funding was anticipated to total up to $150,000 for the Pacific Islands Area competition in FY 2015.
How many awards did NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expected to make about two awards.
What is the expected award size (minimum and maximum)?
Individual awards were projected to range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $75,000.
How long can a project last under this grant?
Projects could run from one to three years.
Is a cost share or match required?
Yes. The grant requires cost sharing or matching. Recipients are expected to contribute non-federal resources, which may include cash and/or eligible in-kind support, to help carry out the project.
What does the application process look like?
The competition was structured as a two-phase process: (1) a pre-proposal submission that NRCS screened for completeness and compliance, and (2) a full proposal submission by invitation only for those whose pre-proposals were selected.
Why does the program use a two-phase (pre-proposal then full proposal) process?
The staged approach is intended to reduce the burden on both applicants and reviewers by narrowing the field before requiring full, detailed proposal packages.
What happens if a pre-proposal submission is incomplete or noncompliant?
Incomplete or noncompliant submissions were removed from consideration. NRCS indicated it would notify applicants if their package was eliminated at that stage.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes governmental and non-governmental applicants as well as individuals. Eligible types listed include: 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), city or township governments, county governments, state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and individuals.
Are individuals allowed to apply?
Yes. Individuals are listed as an eligible applicant type.
Can nonprofits apply, and are there any nonprofit restrictions noted?
Yes. 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible, with the announcement specifying "other than institutions of higher education" in that category.
Are universities and colleges eligible?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicant types.
Are tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.
What kinds of projects does this grant generally support?
Projects generally connect agriculture with conservation outcomes and are aimed at innovative approaches and technologies related to natural resource protection and improvement, including areas such as soil, water, air, energy, and broader environmental and natural resource concerns.
What was the pre-proposal deadline for FY 2015?
The pre-proposal deadline was 12:00 p.m. (noon) Hawaii Standard Time on Friday, April 24, 2015.
When did NRCS plan to announce which pre-proposals were selected?
NRCS planned to announce selected pre-proposals by May 15, 2015.
What was the full proposal deadline for invited applicants?
Applicants invited to submit a full proposal package had to submit by 12:00 p.m. (noon) Hawaii Standard Time on Friday, June 19, 2015.
When was the announcement posted and when was it archived?
The announcement was posted on March 30, 2015, and the opportunity was later archived on May 24, 2015.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Submission instructions required three paper copies of the application and an electronic copy via email. Packages could be sent by express mail/overnight courier or by U.S. Postal Service, and the electronic copy was to be emailed to the contact listed in the announcement.
How many paper copies were required?
Applicants were required to submit three paper copies.
Where should express mail or overnight courier packages be sent?
Express mail or overnight courier packages could be sent to: USDA NRCS, CIG Program, Attn: Nicola Giardina, 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Room 4-118, Honolulu, HI 96850.
Where should U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail be sent?
USPS mail could be sent to: P.O. Box 50004, Honolulu, HI 96850-0050.
Where should the electronic copy be emailed?
The electronic copy was to be emailed to nicola.giardina@hi.usda.gov.
Who is the primary point of contact for program questions?
The primary point of contact listed is Nicola Giardina, State EQIP Program Manager.
What phone number was provided for the primary contact?
The phone number provided is (808) 541-2600 ext. 155.
Who was listed for accessibility issues obtaining the full announcement electronically?
The notice referenced Jason Peel, Assistant Director, for accessibility issues obtaining the full announcement electronically.
What phone number was provided for accessibility assistance?
The phone number referenced for accessibility assistance is (808) 541-2600.
How competitive was this funding round expected to be?
Based on the anticipated total funding (up to $150,000) and the expectation of about two awards, the opportunity was described as relatively small and highly competitive.
What is a key feature applicants should plan for in their budgets and project design?
A key feature is the required cost share/match using non-federal resources (cash and/or eligible in-kind support), meaning applicants should plan for contributions beyond the federal award to carry out the work.
What is NRCS looking for in terms of project impact?
The description emphasizes piloting or demonstrating conservation innovations suited to Pacific Island conditions, showing measurable conservation benefits, and demonstrating a clear path to broader adoption beyond a single site after the grant period.
What project time horizon does the program allow for piloting and demonstration?
The one-to-three-year project period is intended to give applicants time to pilot, test, refine, and demonstrate approaches that can be replicated beyond a single site.
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| Conservation Innovation Grants RI FY09 Apply for USDA NRCS RI 09 1 Funding Number: USDA NRCS RI 09 1 Agency: Rhode Island State Office Category: Agriculture Energy Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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| Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDA NRCS GA 11 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS GA 11 01 Agency: Georgia State Office Category: Agriculture Energy Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| PA 2011 Conservation Innovation Grants Apply for USDANRCSPA1101 Funding Number: USDANRCSPA1101 Agency: Pennsylvania State Office Category: Agriculture Energy Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| VERMONT CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANT (CIG) Apply for USDANRCSVT1101 Funding Number: USDANRCSVT1101 Agency: Vermont State Office Category: Agriculture Energy Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| GA Conservation Innovation Grant 2014 Apply for USDA NRCS GA 14 0001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS GA 14 0001 Agency: Georgia State Office Category: Agriculture Energy Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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