Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’s Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 | USDA NRCS NHQ CIGCLASSIC 23 NOFO0001311

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIGCLASSIC 23 NOFO0001311

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering up to $15 million in funding through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program for federal fiscal year 2023. This opportunity is meant to spark new and practical conservation solutions that can be used alongside real-world agricultural production. The emphasis is on innovation that can be tested, demonstrated, and then broadly adopted, with an expectation that funded projects will help move proven conservation technologies and approaches into the hands of agricultural producers and the private sector.

CIG Classic projects are intended to do more than just research an idea; they are expected to support the transfer and adoption of conservation practices. NRCS highlights outcomes like developing technical manuals, guides, and other practical instructional materials that make it easier for producers and industry partners to apply the results. The program also encourages innovation in management systems and market-based approaches, not just equipment or field practices, as long as the end result helps advance conservation goals in working agricultural landscapes.

Applications are open to non-Federal entities and individuals located in the United States, with eligibility details referenced in the notice (Section III(A)). Grants may support projects lasting from 1 to 3 years. The maximum award amount for any single project in FY 2023 is $2 million, and NRCS expects to make roughly 17 awards under this funding announcement. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant, tied to CFDA number 10.912, and covers a broad set of activity areas including agriculture, natural resources, environment, energy, science and technology, and other research and development themes connected to conservation innovation.

All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, with a firm deadline of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on October 30, 2023. Applicants who run into technical problems with Grants.gov are directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), and NRCS notes that its staff cannot help troubleshoot Grants.gov account issues. For questions strictly about the content and requirements of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (such as clarifying dates, page references, or resolving discrepancies), applicants are instructed to contact the federal awarding agency using the contact information provided in the notice. NRCS also makes clear that it will not respond to questions about whether a particular applicant is eligible or whether a particular project idea is likely to be competitive.

To help applicants prepare, NRCS scheduled a webinar for CIG Classic applicants on September 12, 2023 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time, hosted via Microsoft Teams with an option to join by phone. NRCS encourages potential applicants to review the CIG program website for additional background and directs general questions about the announcement to nrcscig@usda.gov. After the submission period closes, NRCS estimates it will make selections by January 15, 2024, and expects to execute awards by May 31, 2024, while noting that these dates are projections and could change.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, business and commerce, energy, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’s Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023" 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 Aug 31, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 30, 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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 17 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification), Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIGCLASSIC 23 NOFO0001311

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