2017 National Conservation Innovation Grants APF | USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 17 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 17 01

The 2017 National Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) APF opportunity, offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is a discretionary grant program designed to speed up the development and real-world adoption of innovative conservation methods and technologies that also support agricultural production. The central goal is not basic research for its own sake, but practical innovation that can be demonstrated in working landscapes and then scaled. Projects are expected to produce results that can be transferred and used broadly, such as moving proven conservation technologies and management systems into the hands of EQIP-eligible producers (the Environmental Quality Incentives Program audience), being incorporated into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or being adopted by the private sector. A major emphasis is placed on applying or demonstrating approaches that already have evidence behind them, using CIG funding to expand adoption and test implementation at farm or field scale, especially where there is a clear path to scaling an emerging but proven strategy.

The program strongly encourages on-the-ground conservation innovation, including pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. In this context, on-farm conservation research has a specific meaning: it must be designed to answer a defined conservation question using a statistically valid approach, carried out on actual farm fields with farm-scale equipment, and supported by adequate replication and statistical analysis. NRCS indicates that when it funds research through CIG, it will prioritize on-farm research that clearly stimulates innovative approaches to natural resource management in conjunction with agricultural production, reinforcing the program focus on implementable solutions rather than purely academic inquiry. CIG also highlights collaboration and knowledge-sharing, aiming to spread skills, technology, and access to facilities across communities, governments, and institutions so that conservation advances are usable by more people, not confined to a single organization or location.

Applications could be submitted for single-year or multi-year projects, with a maximum project period of up to three years. The geographic scope is broad: proposals were accepted from eligible entities in any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Eligibility is similarly wide and includes Indian Tribes, state and local governmental units, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) organizations), public and private institutions of higher education, individuals, and for-profit entities (including small businesses). The program is categorized under agriculture, environment, and natural resources, and is associated with CFDA number 10.912.

The funding opportunity (USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 17 01) was posted on November 3, 2016, and had an original application deadline of January 9, 2017. The maximum award amount listed was up to $2,000,000, and NRCS anticipated making about 60 awards. Proposals submitted by the deadline were reviewed through a two-tier selection process. First, a technical peer review panel evaluated complete proposals against the published proposal evaluation criteria. Then, full proposals, along with input from both the technical peer review panel and the State Conservationist, were forwarded to the NRCS Grants Review Board. The Grants Review Board made recommendations to the NRCS Chief, who made the final funding selections. Overall, the opportunity is structured to fund field-ready conservation innovations with credible evidence, clear demonstration value, and a strong plan for adoption and wider transfer.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2017 National Conservation Innovation Grants APF" 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 Nov 03, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 09, 2017. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 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), 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.

Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 17 01

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