Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG NOF001009

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, offered a Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding opportunity for Federal fiscal year 2020 focused specifically on projects carried out in Arkansas. The purpose of this Arkansas CIG competition was to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in the agriculture and natural resources space. In practical terms, the program aimed to help move promising conservation ideas from concept to real-world use by supporting projects that test, demonstrate, or help implement new methods that improve conservation outcomes.

This opportunity was a discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NRCS AR CIG NOF001009) listed under CFDA 10.912, with a total of up to $300,000 available statewide for FY 2020. NRCS anticipated making about two awards, and the maximum funding amount (award ceiling) for any single project was $150,000. Projects could run from one to three years, which allowed applicants to propose anything from short pilot demonstrations to multi-year efforts that validate and refine an approach over more than one growing season or implementation cycle.

Eligibility was broad. NRCS invited applications from all non-federal entities and from individuals, with federal agencies being the only entities explicitly excluded. That means organizations such as state and local governments, tribes, universities, nonprofits, private businesses, and other eligible non-federal groups could compete, as well as individual applicants, as long as the proposed work would be conducted in Arkansas and fit the CIG purpose of driving innovative conservation adoption.

The timeline for the competition was straightforward. The funding notice was created on April 30, 2020, and the application deadline was June 30, 2020. Applications had to be received by 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on June 30, 2020, and late submissions were not reviewed or considered. NRCS required applicants to submit a PDF of the complete application package by email to AR-Programs@usda.gov. For purposes of confirming whether an application met the deadline, NRCS relied on the system-generated date and time stamp associated with the email submission.

Overall, this Arkansas CIG opportunity provided relatively focused, mid-sized grant support (up to $150,000 per award) to help eligible non-federal applicants and individuals develop and promote innovative conservation solutions. With a small number of expected awards and a defined Arkansas-only scope, the competition was designed to fund a limited set of projects that could meaningfully advance conservation practice adoption in the state within a one- to three-year performance period.

  • The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – Arkansas" 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 Apr 30, 2020.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2020 Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Central Standard Time on June 30, 2020. Applications must be submitted as a pdf of the complete application via email to AR-Programs@usda.gov. Submissions must be received by the time and date due. Late submissions will not be reviewed or considered. The agency will rely on system generated date and time receipt documentation for submission made e-mail to determine whether applications meet the submission deadline.. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG NOF001009

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) competition offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It was a Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 funding opportunity focused specifically on projects carried out in Arkansas.

What is the main purpose of the Arkansas CIG competition?

The purpose of the Arkansas CIG competition was to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in agriculture and natural resources. The program aimed to help move promising conservation ideas from concept to real-world use by supporting projects that test, demonstrate, or help implement new methods that improve conservation outcomes.

What kinds of projects were this grant designed to support?

Based on the notice description, projects were intended to test, demonstrate, or assist with implementation of innovative conservation approaches or technologies. The emphasis was on innovation and adoption, meaning the grant supported efforts that help new conservation methods move into practical, real-world application.

Is this a discretionary grant program?

Yes. This opportunity was described as a discretionary grant program.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) listed for this announcement is USDA NRCS AR CIG NOF001009.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity was listed under CFDA 10.912.

How much total funding was available for Arkansas under this competition?

NRCS indicated that up to $300,000 in total funding was available statewide for FY 2020 under this Arkansas competition.

How many awards did NRCS expect to make?

NRCS anticipated making about two awards.

What was the maximum award amount per project?

The award ceiling (maximum funding amount for any single project) was $150,000.

How long could projects last?

Projects could have a period of performance ranging from one to three years.

Does the grant support short-term pilots as well as multi-year projects?

Yes. With allowable project lengths from one to three years, applicants could propose short pilot demonstrations or multi-year efforts that validate and refine an approach over more than one growing season or implementation cycle.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad. NRCS invited applications from all non-federal entities and from individuals. Federal agencies were the only entities explicitly excluded.

Are individuals allowed to apply, or is it limited to organizations?

Individuals were explicitly included as eligible applicants, along with non-federal entities.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

No. Federal agencies were explicitly excluded from eligibility.

What types of organizations are examples of eligible non-federal entities?

The notice described eligibility broadly to include non-federal entities such as state and local governments, tribes, universities, nonprofits, private businesses, and other eligible non-federal groups, provided the project is conducted in Arkansas and fits the CIG purpose of driving innovative conservation adoption.

Does the project have to be located in Arkansas?

Yes. This competition was specifically focused on projects carried out in Arkansas, and the description indicates the proposed work would be conducted in Arkansas.

When was the funding notice created?

The funding notice was created on April 30, 2020.

What was the application deadline?

The application deadline was June 30, 2020.

What time were applications due on the deadline date?

Applications had to be received by 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on June 30, 2020.

Were late applications accepted?

No. Late submissions were not reviewed or considered.

How did applicants have to submit their application package?

Applicants were required to submit a PDF of the complete application package by email.

What email address was used for submission?

Applications had to be submitted by email to AR-Programs@usda.gov.

How did NRCS determine whether an application met the deadline?

NRCS relied on the system-generated date and time stamp associated with the email submission to confirm whether the application met the deadline.

What is the overall scope and scale of this Arkansas CIG opportunity?

This was a focused Arkansas-only competition with mid-sized awards (up to $150,000 each), a small expected number of awards (about two), and a one- to three-year project period. It was designed to fund a limited set of projects that could meaningfully advance adoption of innovative conservation practices in the state.

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