Conservation Outreach, Education and Technical Assistance

 

The overall goal of Conservation Outreach is to expand conservation assistance to historically underserved farmers and ranchers in participating equitably in the full range of agriculture, agribusiness, forestry, and related programs offered by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and to provide opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. Eligible entities may compete for funding on projects that provide education and training in agriculture, agribusiness, forestry, agriculturally related services, within NRCS programs, and to conduct outreach initiatives.

Active 10.938 Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2022 We received 250 applications and 118 applications were funded for fiscal year 2022.
Fiscal Year 2023 We received 300 applications and no applications have been funded for this fiscal year to date, currently in the final stages of selection. The Farm Bill, Title Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, Section 2501, Public Law Public Law 115-334, 7 USC Code 2279-, 7 U.S. Code Title 55 U.S.C. 2279
Conservation Technical Assistance Program, Title Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, 16 U.S.C. 590a‐f and 590q
Farming opportunities training and outreach Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete, noncompliant, and/or applications not meeting the formatting criteria may be eliminated from competition. In that event, the agency will send notification of elimination to the applicant Additional specific award procedures may be outlined in individual Notices of Funding Opportunities published on Grants,gov. However, procedures will generally follow the steps set out here. Once funding decisions are made, the agency may contact individual applicants to clarify certain components of their applications. Merit/technical reviews of all applications will be conducted by a technical review board nominated by the approving official. Risk reviews will be conducted by the FPAC Business Center, Grants and Agreements Division. The approving official will make the final award decisions. The approving official for this opportunity is the Chief. Reviews will be conducted in a multi-phase review process in which an interagency staff panel from USDA will make recommendations to the approving official. Interagency reviewers will be selected based upon knowledge, skills, training and experience in relevant fields. Additional specific award procedures may be outlined in individual Notices of Funding Opportunities published on Grants,gov. However, procedures will generally follow the steps set out here. Once funding decisions are made, the agency may contact individual applicants to clarify certain components of their applications. Merit/technical reviews of all applications will be conducted by a technical review board nominated by the approving official. Risk reviews will be conducted by the FPAC Business Center, Grants and Agreements Division. The approving official will make the final award decisions. The approving official for this opportunity is the Chief. Reviews will be conducted in a multi-phase review process in which an interagency staff panel from USDA agencies will make recommendations to the approving official. Interagency reviewers will be selected based upon knowledge, skills, training and experience in relevant fields. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 90 to 120 days. A minimum of 90 days. Proposals must be received by the deadline indicated on the Funding Opportunity Announcement posted on www.grants.gov. Proposals received after the posted deadline will not be considered for funding. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Outreach opportunity in collaboration with partners to expand the delivery of conservation assistance to historically underserved farmers and ranchers, including socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning, tribal, and veterans, and to provide opportunities to students to pursue careers in natural resources and related sciences. Performance Reports: Recipients must provide the following to the agency: • semi-annual performance reports that compare accomplishments to the objectives stated in the Cooperative Agreement, and that must also: • Identify all tasks completed to date and provide documentation supporting the reported results (dates and locations of activities, county, city state; number of participants assisted, barriers to participation); • If the original schedule provided in the work plan is not being met, discuss the problems or delays that may affect completion of the project; • List objectives for the next reporting period. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 This program is subject to 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements. The recipient must maintain records of supporting documentation all costs incurred under this award. Such documentation includes, but is not limited to, canceled checks, paid bills, payroll records, and subaward documents. Labor cost charges to this award must be based upon salaries actually earned and the time actually worked on this award. All project costs must be incurred within the period of performance of this award, including any approved no-cost extension of time. The Government may disallow costs that cannot be supported by supporting documentation or that are incurred outside of the agreement period of performance and budget and may require the return of any funds paid out for those costs. The level of detail and documentation required to be provided to support any individual payment request is at the discretion of the Government. Do not provide supporting documentation unless it is specifically requested. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Funding for this program is not cyclical. Funding opportunities will be announced as funding is available and as agency priorities dictate. Method of award: Program funds may be released on a reimbursable or advance basis in accordance. All funds are expected to be expended within 2 years of award of agreement. Cooperative Agreement funding once the agreement is obligated. Reimbursement and entity will request for an advance or reimbursement. None/Not specified. Ronald Harris
1400 Independence Ave SW
Room 4625-S
Washington, DC 20050 US
Ronald.Harris@usda.gov
Phone: 2027206646 https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/partner-with-us/outreach-and-partnerships/equity-conservation-agreements 12-1004-0-1-302 (Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$132,667,827.00; FY 23 est $112,638,531.00; FY 24 Estimate Not Available FY 21 - FY 2022- $50 million FY 2023- $70 million FY 2024 - $75 million Not applicable. Fiscal Year 2022 Conservation Outreach: Racial Equity and Justice Conservation Cooperative Agreements Funding Opportunity-No. USDA-NRCS-NHA-REJ-21-NOFO0001121 • 118 proposals were approved for funding for a total of $50 million • Providing outreach to historically underserved producers as the following: Beginning Farmer or Rancher, Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher, Veteran Farmers or Ranchers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher. Groups include, but are not limited to: African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asians, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders
Fiscal Year 2023 Conservation Outreach: Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements Funding Opportunity No. USDA-NRCS-NHQ-ECO-23-NOFO0001222 award is up to $70 million. Expand conservation assistance to historically underserved producers and communities and provide opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences to the following: Beginning Farmer and Rancher, Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher, Veteran Farmers or Ranchers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher. Socially Disadvantaged groups include Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders.
Fiscal Year 2024 Proposed $75 million