Grants to Louisiana Nonprofits, Agencies, Tribes, IHEs, For-Profits, and Individuals to Encourage Conservation Practices in Agriculture

Grants to Louisiana Nonprofits, Agencies, Tribes, IHEs, For-Profits, and
Individuals to Encourage Conservation Practices in Agriculture

Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) - Louisiana

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Agency Type:

Federal

Funding Source:

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United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - Louisiana

Deadline Date:

05/27/22 11:59 PM ET

Description:

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Grants to Louisiana nonprofit organizations, government agencies, tribal governments, IHEs, for-profit organizations, and individuals to support the adoption of conservation practices in agriculture. Applicants are advised that required registrations may take up to several weeks to complete.

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into government technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches or private forest lands.

CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of:

Approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption, including market-based and conservation finance approaches; and
Conservation technologies, practices, and systems.

Projects or activities under CIG must comply with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations throughout the duration of the project; and

Use a technology or approach that was studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success;
Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservation technologies and approaches in the field;
Adapt and transfer conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption;
Introduce proven conservation technologies and approaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology or approach is not currently in use.

For information about funding priorities, see Page 6 of the RFP document in Supporting Documents, below.

GrantWatch ID#:

GrantWatch ID#: 202922

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$300,000

Number of Grants:

Estimated Size of Grant:

Award Ceiling: $150,000
Award Floor: $100,000

Term of Contract:

Projects may be between 1 and 3 years in duration. Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date of September 15, 2022.

Eligibility:

City or township governments
County governments
For profit organizations other than small businesses
Independent school districts
Indian housing authorities
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally funded 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
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Public housing authorities
See RFP and/or Grant Guidelines for full eligibility
Small businesses
Special district governments
State governments
Individuals

Additional Eligibility Criteria:

All U.S.-based non-Federal entities (NFE) and individuals, with the exception of Federal agencies, are eligible to apply for projects carried out in Louisiana. The following entity types are eligible:
a. City or township governments
b. County governments
c. For profit organizations other than small businesses
d. Independent school districts
e. Individuals
f. Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
g. Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
h. Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
i. Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)
j. Private institutions of higher education
k. Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
l. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
m. Small businesses
n. Special district governments
o. State governments

Technologies and approaches that are eligible for funding in a project’s geographic area using an EQIP contract for an established conservation practice standard are ineligible for CIG funding, except where the use of those technologies and approaches demonstrates clear innovation.

For information about funding restrictions, see Page 23 of the RFP document in Supporting Documents, below.

Pre-Application Information:

Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 27, 2022.

Applicants interested in submitting an application in response to this NFO must submit it via Grants.gov; the agency will not accept applications submitted via email or any other method. Applicants are urged to submit early to the Grants.gov system.

Steps to Register:
i. Obtain a DUNS Number or UEI: All entities applying for funding must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) or a UEI issued by SAM.gov. Applicants must enter the DUNS Number/UEI in the data entry field labeled "UEI" on the SF-424 form.

ii. Register with SAM: All organizations must register with System for Award Management (SAM) to apply online through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. Part of the SAM registration process includes designating an Electronic Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC). The EBiz POC plays an integral part in the organization’s Grants.gov registration and application process. The individual in that role must authorize all other roles in Grants.gov. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

iii. Create a Grants.gov Account: From the Grants.gov webpage (https://www.grants.gov/), click “Register” in the top right-hand corner and follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

This NFO requires applicants to share at least 50% of total project costs. Special considerations exist for some historically underserved applications.

View this opportunity on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=339834

For a list of relevant application documents, see the Package tab (click Preview) at the link listed above.

Contact Information:

Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates/changes/addendums/conferences/LOIs.

Questions about this announcement can be directed to Dr. Craig Smith, NRCS Louisiana State Conservation Agronomist, at (318) 473-7805, craig.smith2@usda.gov since these applications are related to cropland.

For assistance with the registration process, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.