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Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 – Caribbean Area

ID: USDA-NRCS-PR-CIG-24-NOFO0001376 • Type: Posted

Description

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary

NRCS is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Caribbean Area Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities (Section C) for projects carried out in the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico (PR) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)). A total of up to $500,000 is available for the Caribbean Area CIG competition in FY 2024. All non-Foreign, non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2024 is $100,000. For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Completing all steps required to start an application can take a significant amount of time, plan accordingly.

Key Dates

Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 15, 2024 For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.

A webinar for CIG applicants is scheduled for April 9, 2024 at 9 a.m. Atlantic Standard Time. Information on how to participate in the webinar will be posted to the HYPERLINK website. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Caribbean Area CIG website to learn more about the CIG program.

The agency anticipates making selections by June 30, 2024 and expects to execute awards by July 30, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

Background
The U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Caribbean Area Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production in the United Caribbean Areas and its territories. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches to agricultural producers, into government technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector.

Grant Details
The program is authorized as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) under 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8. The program funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. Projects may be funded from two separate authorizations: the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2024 is $100,000. The program accepts proposals that address one or more of the Caribbean Area priorities including Water Quality, Water harvesting on dry lands, Climate-Smart Agriculture, Conservation in Urban Agricultural Systems, Invasive Species Control, and Innovative Local Scale Waste Management Systems.

Eligibility Requirements
All U.S. non-Foreign, non-Federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply for projects carried out in the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and/or US Virgin Islands). US Federal agencies are not eligible to apply to this opportunity or impart their work to non-federal portion of the budget. All CIG projects must involve EQIP-eligible producers that meet EQIP’s eligibility requirements listed in 7 CFR § 1466.6(b)(1) through (3).

Period of Performance
Projects may be between one and three years in duration with an estimated project start date of September 1, 2024.

Grant Value
$500,000 is available for the Caribbean Area CIG competition in FY 2024 with a maximum award amount for a single award being $100,000.

Place of Performance
Projects must be performed in Puerto Rico and/or US Virgin Islands.
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Overview

Agency
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) [USDA]
Category of Funding
Agriculture
Environment
Natural Resources
Funding Instruments
Grant
Grant Program (CFDA)
10.912 - Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
False
Source
Grants.gov
On 3/11/24 Natural Resources Conservation Service posted grant opportunity USDA-NRCS-PR-CIG-24-NOFO0001376 for Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 – Caribbean Area with funding of $500,000. The grant will be issued under grant program 10.912 Environmental Quality Incentives Program. It is expected that 5 total grants will be made worth between $25,000 and $100,000.

Timing

Posted Date
March 11, 2024, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Closing Date
May 15, 2024, 12:00 a.m. EDT Past Due
Closing Date Explanation
Applications must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
Last Updated
March 11, 2024, 9:04 a.m. EDT
Version
1
Archive Date
June 14, 2024

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
For profit organizations other than small businesses
Individuals
Independent school districts
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Small businesses
Special district governments
County governments
City or township governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Private institutions of higher education
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
State governments
Additional Info
Individuals that are business owner/operators cannot apply as individuals.

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$100,000
Floor
$25,000
Estimated Program Funding
$500,000
Estimated Number of Grants
5

Contacts

Contact
Alberto Aviles Grantor
Contact Email
alberto.aviles@usda.gov   Profile
Email Description
If you have any questions related to preparing application content.
Contact Phone
(860) 871-4220
Additional Information
See Related Documents Tab.

Documents

Posted documents for USDA-NRCS-PR-CIG-24-NOFO0001376

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