Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 14 01
Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 14 01
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Conservation Partnership Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 27, 2014 and posted on May 27, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 14, 2014 Closed date is for submission of Pre proposal applications only. Selected applicants will be notified to submit full proposals.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $400,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 150 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments Special district governments State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- OTHER See Section III.A. Partner Eligibility for additional eligible applicants not listed above.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant and partnership opportunity designed to improve conservation outcomes on private agricultural and forest lands by scaling efforts beyond individual farms and into whole watersheds or broader regions. NRCS, USDA's primary conservation agency, uses this program to work with farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners to tackle soil, water, wildlife, and related natural resource challenges in a coordinated way. The central idea is that many resource issues like nutrient runoff, water scarcity, habitat fragmentation, erosion, and flood risks do not stop at property lines, so NRCS is authorized under the Farm Bill to strengthen regional cooperation and deliver more durable, landscape-scale results.
RCPP is built around co-investment and collaboration. Instead of NRCS acting alone, the program invites partners to bring local knowledge, innovative strategies, and additional resources to accelerate conservation adoption on private lands. Partners develop project applications that target specific natural resource objectives in a defined project area, such as a watershed, multi-county region, or other ecologically meaningful geography. Selected partners then work alongside NRCS to promote conservation, help producers and landowners implement practices, and evaluate outcomes to show measurable environmental and community benefits. The program is intended to support both working lands conservation (helping producers improve management while staying productive) and longer-term resource protection, with an emphasis on solutions that are practical for real-world agricultural production and that also strengthen local economies and communities that depend on clean water, healthy soils, and resilient landscapes.
A key feature of RCPP is that it consolidates and builds on the authorities of several earlier conservation efforts, specifically the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program, Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI), and the Great Lakes Basin Program. While it is a distinct partnership program, the on-the-ground financial and technical assistance is delivered through existing NRCS conservation program rules and tools. This includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP). In certain locations, it can also involve the Watershed Operations and Flood Prevention Program. In practice, this means RCPP projects can fund or support a wide range of conservation approaches, from installing and upgrading practices (for example, irrigation efficiency measures, erosion control, nutrient management, or habitat improvements) to encouraging ongoing stewardship and, where appropriate, conserving land through easements or forest reserve actions.
For this specific funding notice (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 14 01, CFDA 10.930), NRCS announced the availability of nearly $400 million in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding to support RCPP partnership agreements. The opportunity anticipated roughly 150 awards, with an award ceiling of $20,000,000 and no stated award floor. A cost-share or matching contribution is required, reflecting the program's emphasis on shared investment and leveraging partner resources. The funding instrument type is listed as "Other," and the activity focus spans agriculture, environment, and natural resources.
Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive to support strong regional coalitions. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments; state governments; county, city, township, special district governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and both public and private institutions of higher education. The notice also indicates there are additional eligible applicants described elsewhere in the full announcement (referenced as Section III.A on partner eligibility), which is typical for partnership programs that may allow a wide range of entities such as producer associations, conservation districts, or other organizations capable of coordinating multi-party projects.
Geographically, the program accepted applications nationwide, including all 50 states, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and U.S. territories and affiliated areas in the Pacific Island region (including Guam, American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). This wide coverage underscores that NRCS intended RCPP to be a national platform for regional conservation innovation, not limited to a single basin or priority area.
The application process for this notice was structured around an initial pre-proposal stage. The posted date and creation date were May 27, 2014, with a pre-proposal closing date of July 14, 2014. The announcement notes that the closing date applied to pre-proposals only, and that selected applicants would later be notified to submit full proposals. This kind of two-step process is designed to reduce burden on applicants and the agency by screening for fit, readiness, and potential impact before requiring full technical detail and partner commitments.
Overall, RCPP is best understood as a framework NRCS uses to fund and coordinate partner-led conservation projects that produce measurable benefits at the scale where environmental problems actually occur. The program prioritizes projects that blend practical agricultural production needs with resource protection goals, rely on strong local or regional partnerships, and include credible plans for implementation and outcome evaluation. For administrative questions or access issues related to the full announcement, the notice lists a grants and agreements specialist contact (Frankie Comfort, 202-690-0164).
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) - FAQ
What is the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)?
RCPP is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) grant and partnership opportunity focused on improving conservation outcomes on private agricultural and forest lands. The program is designed to scale conservation beyond individual farms and into watersheds or broader regions where natural resource challenges actually occur.
What kinds of problems is RCPP designed to address?
RCPP targets coordinated solutions to natural resource issues that cross property boundaries. Examples described in the notice include nutrient runoff, water scarcity, habitat fragmentation, erosion, and flood risks, along with related soil, water, and wildlife challenges.
Why does RCPP emphasize watershed-scale or regional projects?
The program is based on the idea that many conservation and resource problems do not stop at property lines. By working across a defined project area (such as a watershed or multi-county region), partners and NRCS can pursue more durable, landscape-scale results than isolated, farm-by-farm efforts.
Who leads RCPP projects: NRCS or local partners?
RCPP is partner-led and collaboration-driven. Partners develop project applications aimed at specific natural resource objectives in a defined geography. Selected partners then work alongside NRCS to promote conservation, support implementation by producers and landowners, and evaluate outcomes.
How is RCPP different from NRCS conservation programs like EQIP or CSP?
RCPP is a partnership framework that coordinates and funds partner-led projects, while on-the-ground financial and technical assistance is delivered through existing NRCS program rules and tools. The notice specifically references delivery through programs such as EQIP, CSP, ACEP, and HFRP, and in certain locations it can also involve the Watershed Operations and Flood Prevention Program.
What conservation approaches can be supported through an RCPP project?
Based on the notice, RCPP projects can support a wide range of conservation approaches, including installing or upgrading conservation practices (for example, irrigation efficiency measures, erosion control, nutrient management, or habitat improvements), encouraging ongoing stewardship, and where appropriate, conserving land through easements or forest reserve actions.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number for this notice?
The notice identifies Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS NHQ RCPP 14 01 and CFDA 10.930.
How much funding was available under this specific notice?
NRCS announced the availability of nearly $400 million in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding to support RCPP partnership agreements.
How many awards were anticipated?
The notice anticipated roughly 150 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $20,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No award floor is stated in the information provided for this notice.
Is cost-share or matching required?
Yes. The notice states that a cost-share or matching contribution is required, reflecting RCPP's emphasis on shared investment and leveraging partner resources.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is listed as "Other."
What types of activities does this opportunity support?
The activity focus spans agriculture, environment, and natural resources, with an emphasis on conservation outcomes on private agricultural and forest lands.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad. The notice lists eligible applicants including federally recognized Native American tribal governments; state governments; county, city, township, and special district governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and both public and private institutions of higher education.
Are there other eligible applicants besides the groups listed?
Yes. The notice indicates there are additional eligible applicants described elsewhere in the full announcement (referenced as Section III.A on partner eligibility).
Where could projects be located?
Applications were accepted nationwide, including all 50 states, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and U.S. territories and affiliated areas in the Pacific Island region. The notice lists Guam, American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
What is the basic application structure for this notice?
This notice used a two-step process starting with an initial pre-proposal stage. The closing date provided applies to pre-proposals only, and selected applicants would later be notified to submit full proposals.
What were the key dates for the pre-proposal stage?
The posted date and creation date were May 27, 2014. The pre-proposal closing date was July 14, 2014.
Does the July 14, 2014 closing date apply to full proposals?
No. The information provided states that the closing date applied to pre-proposals only, and that selected applicants would later be invited to submit full proposals.
What is the purpose of the two-step (pre-proposal then full proposal) process?
As described, the two-step process is meant to reduce burden on both applicants and the agency by screening for fit, readiness, and potential impact before requiring full technical detail and partner commitments.
What does NRCS expect from selected partners after award?
Selected partners are expected to work with NRCS to promote conservation, help producers and landowners implement practices, and evaluate outcomes to show measurable environmental and community benefits.
Does the program focus only on long-term land protection, or also on working lands?
Both. The notice describes support for working lands conservation (improving management while keeping land productive) and longer-term resource protection, with practical solutions for real-world agricultural production.
What earlier conservation efforts are reflected in RCPP?
The notice states that RCPP consolidates and builds on authorities from several earlier efforts: the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program, Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI), and the Great Lakes Basin Program.
Who can be contacted for administrative questions or access issues related to the full announcement?
The notice lists a grants and agreements specialist contact: Frankie Comfort, 202-690-0164.
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