Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ VPA HIP 14 01
Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ VPA HIP 14 01
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Prg" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.093 Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 5, 2014 and posted on May 1, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 16, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA HIP) is a competitive federal grant program run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is authorized under section 1240R of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-5), and the key point is that funding is reserved only for State governments and federally recognized Tribal governments. The program is designed to support government-run efforts that persuade private landowners to voluntarily open working lands to the public for wildlife-dependent recreation, especially hunting and fishing. In other words, it is not a grant for private landowners directly; it is a grant for states and tribes to build or expand access programs that then partner with private owners of farms, ranches, and forests.
From a funding standpoint, VPA HIP is described as mandatory funding, with up to $40 million available across fiscal years 2014 through 2018. For FY 2014 specifically, NRCS planned to make $20 million available initially. NRCS also notes that funds may be used both for obligations tied to previously approved proposals (from prior years) and for brand new proposals submitted under this announcement. The opportunity anticipates up to about 50 awards, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $75,000 to a ceiling of $2,000,000. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number tied to the program is 10.093, and the funding categories align with agriculture, environment, and natural resources. The announcement lists no cost sharing or matching requirement.
The core objective is straightforward: increase public access to privately held agricultural and forest lands for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation through voluntary agreements. The program is meant to create incentives for landowners and operators to participate, usually by having a state or tribal program compensate them, provide liability coverage or outreach support, improve habitat or access infrastructure where appropriate, and manage the program mechanics so that the public has clear, lawful opportunities to recreate. While the announcement does not spell out every eligible activity in the text provided, it emphasizes that projects should directly support these access goals under programs that are implemented by state or tribal governments.
A notable condition applies specifically to state grantees: if a state has migratory bird hunting opening dates that are not consistent for residents and non-residents, the grant amount to that state will be reduced by 25 percent. This penalty does not apply to tribal governments. This clause signals that the program is also trying to encourage equitable access rules around migratory bird hunting, at least as a condition tied to the federal funding.
Administratively, the program is governed by regulations at 7 CFR part 1455. Oversight is under the general supervision and direction of the Vice President of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), with NRCS leadership (including the Chief of NRCS, the Associate Chief for Conservation, or a designee) responsible for administration. The funding announcement (labeled an Announcement for Program Funding, or APF) is the document that provides the program objectives, eligibility rules for applicants and projects, and the application forms and instructions required to compete.
For this specific posting, the funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS NHQ VPA HIP 14 01 and the title is "Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Prg." It was posted May 1, 2014, with an application closing date of June 16, 2014 (and archived July 15, 2014). The agency contact listed for access issues is Sheila Leonard, Team Leader, at 202-720-4102.
Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA HIP) FAQs
What is the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA HIP)?
VPA HIP is a competitive federal grant program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Its purpose is to support government-run efforts that encourage private landowners to voluntarily open working lands to the public for wildlife-dependent recreation, especially hunting and fishing.
Who runs and administers this program?
The program is run by USDA NRCS and governed by regulations at 7 CFR part 1455. Oversight is under the general supervision and direction of the Vice President of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and NRCS leadership (including the Chief of NRCS, the Associate Chief for Conservation, or a designee) is responsible for administration.
Who is eligible to apply for VPA HIP funding?
Funding is reserved only for State governments and federally recognized Tribal governments. Other entities are not eligible applicants under the information provided.
Can private landowners apply directly for VPA HIP grants?
No. The program is not a direct grant to private landowners. Instead, states and tribes apply for grant funding to build or expand public access programs that then partner with private owners of farms, ranches, and forests.
What is the main goal of VPA HIP?
The core goal is to increase public access to privately held agricultural and forest lands for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation through voluntary agreements.
What kinds of lands are involved?
The program focuses on privately held working lands, including agricultural lands and forest lands, such as farms, ranches, and forests, when landowners voluntarily agree to provide public access for eligible recreation.
What types of recreation does the program emphasize?
The announcement emphasizes wildlife-dependent recreation, especially hunting and fishing. It also references other wildlife-dependent recreation as part of the access goals.
What kinds of activities can VPA HIP funds support?
Based on the information provided, projects should directly support access goals under state or tribal programs. Examples mentioned include creating incentives for landowners and operators to participate, compensating landowners through the program, providing liability coverage or outreach support, improving habitat or access infrastructure where appropriate, and managing program mechanics so the public has clear and lawful opportunities to recreate.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement lists no cost sharing or matching requirement.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The program is described as mandatory funding with up to $40 million available across fiscal years 2014 through 2018. For FY 2014 specifically, NRCS planned to make $20 million available initially.
How many awards are expected, and what is the award size?
The opportunity anticipates up to about 50 awards. Individual awards range from $75,000 to $2,000,000.
Can funds be used for previously approved projects?
Yes. NRCS notes that funds may be used both for obligations tied to previously approved proposals (from prior years) and for brand new proposals submitted under this announcement.
What is the CFDA number for VPA HIP?
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number tied to the program is 10.093.
Which funding categories does this opportunity fall under?
The funding categories align with agriculture, environment, and natural resources.
Is there any special condition affecting state grantees related to migratory bird hunting dates?
Yes. If a state has migratory bird hunting opening dates that are not consistent for residents and non-residents, the grant amount to that state will be reduced by 25 percent.
Does the 25 percent reduction apply to Tribal governments?
No. The 25 percent reduction clause described applies to states and does not apply to Tribal governments.
What legal authority authorizes VPA HIP?
The program is authorized under section 1240R of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-5).
What is the funding opportunity number and title for this posting?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS NHQ VPA HIP 14 01, and the title is "Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Prg."
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted May 1, 2014, with an application closing date of June 16, 2014. It was archived July 15, 2014.
Where can applicants find the official objectives, eligibility rules, and application instructions?
The Announcement for Program Funding (APF) is the document that provides the program objectives, eligibility rules for applicants and projects, and the application forms and instructions required to compete.
Who is the agency contact for access issues listed in the announcement?
The agency contact listed for access issues is Sheila Leonard, Team Leader, at 202-720-4102.
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