Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 18 01
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced a California-specific Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding opportunity for federal fiscal year 2018. This program is designed to encourage the development, testing, and broader adoption of new and innovative conservation practices, approaches, and technologies. The focus is on practical innovation that can improve conservation outcomes in agriculture and working landscapes, with projects required to be carried out in the state of California.
This is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NRCS CA CIG 18 01) tied to CFDA 10.912, and it falls under agriculture, environmental and natural resources work, and science and technology/research and development. NRCS made up to $375,000 available statewide for this FY 2018 competition and anticipated making about six awards. Individual awards were capped at $75,000, meaning applicants needed to scope proposals to fit within that maximum federal funding level.
Eligibility was intentionally broad. NRCS invited applications from essentially all non-federal entities and individuals, excluding only federal agencies. Eligible applicants included state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than universities); for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profit organizations that are not small businesses); and individual applicants. This wide eligibility was meant to encourage participation from a mix of public, private, academic, nonprofit, and community-based organizations, as well as innovators working independently.
Projects under this opportunity could run from one to three years, allowing applicants to propose anything from shorter pilot demonstrations to multi-year efforts that refine and validate methods before promoting adoption. The overall intent of the CIG program, as described in the announcement, was to stimulate innovation and accelerate real-world use of conservation solutions, rather than only supporting theoretical research. In other words, proposals were expected to contribute to on-the-ground conservation progress by proving out ideas, demonstrating feasibility, or improving how existing conservation practices are implemented and adopted.
The announcement was created on February 16, 2018, with an original application deadline of April 17, 2018. Applicants had to prepare and submit their materials within that window, targeting the California NRCS CIG competition and ensuring the proposed work would be implemented within California.Apply for USDA NRCS CA CIG 18 01
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, 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' Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal Fiscal year (FY) 2018 - California" 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 Feb 16, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2018. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County 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, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a California-specific Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for federal fiscal year (FY) 2018. The opportunity supports the development, testing, and broader adoption of new and innovative conservation practices, approaches, and technologies.
What is the main goal of the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program?
The goal is to encourage practical innovation that improves conservation outcomes in agriculture and working landscapes. Projects are expected to help accelerate real-world use of conservation solutions by proving ideas, demonstrating feasibility, or improving how existing conservation practices are implemented and adopted.
Is this opportunity limited to California?
Yes. This is a California-specific competition, and projects are required to be carried out in the state of California.
Which USDA office is administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The announcement describes this as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NRCS CA CIG 18 01.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 10.912.
What types of activities or sectors does this grant relate to?
The announcement places this opportunity under agriculture, environmental and natural resources work, and science and technology/research and development.
How much total funding was available statewide for this competition?
NRCS made up to $375,000 available statewide for this FY 2018 competition.
How many awards did NRCS expect to make?
NRCS anticipated making about six awards.
What was the maximum award amount per project?
Individual awards were capped at $75,000 in federal funding.
Does the $75,000 cap affect how proposals should be designed?
Yes. Applicants needed to scope proposals to fit within the maximum federal funding level of $75,000 per award.
How long could a funded project last?
Projects could run from one to three years.
Can projects be short pilots or do they need to be multi-year efforts?
Either approach could fit. The 1- to 3-year period allowed applicants to propose shorter pilot demonstrations or multi-year efforts to refine and validate methods before promoting adoption.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was intentionally broad. NRCS invited applications from essentially all non-federal entities and individuals, excluding only federal agencies.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
No. Federal agencies were excluded from eligibility.
Are state, county, or local governments eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants included state governments, county governments, city/township governments, and special district governments.
Are schools and universities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants included independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants included federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations, both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than universities.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants included for-profit entities, including small businesses and other for-profit organizations that are not small businesses.
Can an individual apply?
Yes. Individual applicants were eligible to apply.
Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants included public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.
Why did NRCS make eligibility so broad?
The announcement indicates this wide eligibility was meant to encourage participation from a mix of public, private, academic, nonprofit, and community-based organizations, as well as innovators working independently.
What does NRCS mean by "practical innovation" in this program?
Based on the announcement, the program intent is not limited to theoretical research. Proposals were expected to contribute to on-the-ground conservation progress by proving out ideas, demonstrating feasibility, or improving implementation and adoption of conservation practices.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on February 16, 2018.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was April 17, 2018.
What was the application window for submitting materials?
Applicants had to prepare and submit their materials between the announcement date (February 16, 2018) and the original deadline (April 17, 2018).
Did applicants need to target a specific competition?
Yes. Applicants needed to ensure they were targeting the California NRCS CIG competition and that the proposed work would be implemented within California.
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