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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 2017 National Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) APF

1) What is the 2017 National Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) APF opportunity?

The 2017 National Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) APF opportunity is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is designed to accelerate the development and real-world adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies that also support agricultural production. The focus is on practical innovation that can be demonstrated on working landscapes and scaled for broader use.

2) What is the main purpose of CIG funding in this opportunity?

The central purpose is to move conservation innovations into practical use, not to fund basic research for its own sake. Projects are expected to produce transferable results that can be used broadly, including by EQIP-eligible producers, within NRCS technical references, or by the private sector.

3) What kinds of projects does this opportunity emphasize?

This opportunity strongly emphasizes on-the-ground conservation innovation, such as pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research, especially when there is credible evidence behind the approach and a clear path to wider adoption.

4) Does this program fund basic or purely academic research?

The opportunity materials emphasize that the goal is not basic research for its own sake. When research is funded, NRCS prioritizes research that is implementable and directly supports innovative natural resource management in conjunction with agricultural production.

5) What does "on-farm conservation research" mean in this program?

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.

6) What types of outcomes are projects expected to produce?

Projects are expected to produce results that can be transferred and used broadly. Examples described include moving proven conservation technologies and management systems into the hands of EQIP-eligible producers, being incorporated into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or being adopted by the private sector.

7) What is EQIP and why is it mentioned?

EQIP refers to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The opportunity describes an expectation that successful CIG projects can help move proven conservation technologies and management systems into the hands of EQIP-eligible producers, meaning innovations should be usable by that audience.

8) What is meant by "field-ready" innovation in this opportunity?

The opportunity is structured around conservation innovations that can be demonstrated at farm or field scale, particularly approaches that already have evidence behind them. CIG funding is positioned as a way to expand adoption and test implementation in real-world working landscapes.

9) How important is scaling and broader adoption to this grant?

Scaling and adoption are core priorities. The opportunity highlights demonstration value and a strong plan for adoption and wider transfer, aiming to move emerging but proven strategies into broader use beyond a single project site or organization.

10) Does the program encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing?

Yes. The opportunity highlights collaboration and knowledge-sharing to spread skills, technology, and access to facilities across communities, governments, and institutions so that conservation advances are usable by more people, rather than remaining confined to one organization or location.

11) How long can a project last?

Applications could be submitted for single-year or multi-year projects, with a maximum project period of up to three years.

12) Where were applicants allowed to be located (geographic scope)?

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).

13) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility included 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).

14) What topic areas does this funding opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is categorized under agriculture, environment, and natural resources.

15) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 10.912.

16) What is the funding opportunity identifier?

The funding opportunity is identified as USDA NRCS NHQ CIG 17 01.

17) When was the opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?

The opportunity was posted on November 3, 2016, and had an original application deadline of January 9, 2017.

18) What was the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount listed was up to $2,000,000.

19) How many awards did NRCS expect to make?

NRCS anticipated making about 60 awards.

20) How were proposals reviewed and selected?

Proposals were reviewed through a two-tier selection process. First, a technical peer review panel evaluated complete proposals against the published proposal evaluation criteria. Second, full proposals (along with input from 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.

21) What role did the State Conservationist play in the selection process?

Input from the State Conservationist was included along with the technical peer review panel input when full proposals were forwarded to the NRCS Grants Review Board.

22) Who made the final funding decisions?

The NRCS Chief made the final funding selections, based on recommendations from the NRCS Grants Review Board.

23) What is the overall focus of the opportunity in plain terms?

Overall, the opportunity is structured to fund conservation innovations that are ready to be tested and demonstrated in real working conditions, supported by credible evidence, and accompanied by a clear plan to transfer what works so it can be adopted widely.