Connecticut Conservation Planning and Support Agreements | USDA NRCS CT MULTI 23 NOFO0001291

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS CT MULTI 23 NOFO0001291

The Connecticut Conservation Planning and Support Agreements opportunity is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cooperative agreement solicitation focused on strengthening conservation assistance in Connecticut. NRCS is looking to partner with organizations that can help deliver, expand, and support soil, water, and wildlife conservation efforts for the states farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. The central idea is to add capacity and coordination around conservation planning and program delivery, particularly where partners can provide on-the-ground technical assistance as well as behind-the-scenes support that keeps conservation projects moving efficiently.

The technical assistance priorities emphasized in the notice are Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry, Water Quality, and Wildlife. Projects are expected to align with one or more of these areas and show practical, credible capability to help producers and landowners adopt conservation approaches that address environmental challenges and working-lands needs. Applicants must be able to do at least one of the following: educate farmers, ranchers, and landowners so they can successfully apply for Farm Bill conservation programs; deliver conservation planning, management, and implementation tied to climate-smart conservation practices, including practices linked to climate change mitigation; and/or provide underlying support functions that enable conservation planning and delivery projects to be maintained and implemented (for example, administrative coordination, outreach support, planning assistance infrastructure, and other program delivery functions).

Funding is offered under a discretionary cooperative agreement instrument (not a formula pass-through), with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and an expectation of about 6 awards. NRCS indicates it will accept both single-year and multi-year applications, as long as the applicant is eligible and the proposal meets the requirements. Proposals will be screened first for completeness and compliance with the notice; incomplete or noncompliant submissions are removed from consideration, and applicants are notified if eliminated. The Connecticut State Conservationist also reserves the right not to fund any or all applications, even if proposals are submitted.

Eligibility is broad and includes state governments, local governments (city/township), special districts, independent school districts, public and state-controlled colleges and universities, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where applicable). The opportunity is associated with CFDA 10.902 and falls under agriculture, environment, and natural resources activities.

Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 23, 2023. NRCS notes that technical support for Grants.gov account or submission issues must go through Grants.gov Applicant Support rather than agency staff. For questions about the content of the funding notice itself, applicants are directed to the federal awarding agency contact listed in the notice (section G), with the caveat that the agency will only address questions about specific notice details (such as dates, page references, or clarifications of inconsistencies) and will not provide feedback on eligibility edge cases or the competitiveness of a particular proposal. The agency estimated selections would be made by June 16, 2023, with awards executed by September 30, 2023, while noting that these dates could change.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Connecticut Conservation Planning and Support Agreements" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 24, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 23, 2023 Applications must be received by 1159 pm Eastern Time. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA NRCS CT MULTI 23 NOFO0001291

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