Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 21 NOFO0001075
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity for FY 2021 in Rhode Island is a competitive grant program designed to spark new ideas and speed up the real-world use of innovative conservation practices and technologies. The overall purpose is to stimulate development, testing, and adoption of approaches that improve conservation outcomes in agriculture and natural resource management. This specific notice is limited to projects that will be carried out within the state of Rhode Island, and it sits within the broader CIG program under CFDA 10.912, focused on agriculture, environmental improvement, and natural resources conservation.
For FY 2021, NRCS made up to $160,000 total available for the Rhode Island state competition, with an expectation of making about two awards. Individual awards can be as large as $150,000 (the award ceiling), which means one large project could take most of the available pool, or the funding could be split among multiple smaller proposals depending on merit and program priorities. Projects can run from one to three years, giving applicants flexibility to propose anything from short pilot demonstrations to multi-season field validation and adoption efforts.
Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive: virtually all non-federal entities and individuals may apply, with the only explicit exclusion being federal agencies. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and individuals. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary, meaning awards are made through a competitive selection process rather than a formula allocation.
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, with a deadline of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 18, 2021. Because Grants.gov registration can take time, the notice specifically points new users to the instructions in Section D.1 for the steps they would need to complete before submission (typically involving account setup and validation). For technical problems with the Grants.gov system itself, applicants were directed to contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov, and the notice emphasizes that NRCS awarding staff cannot help with Grants.gov account issues.
The notice also laid out a question-and-answer window to help applicants interpret the funding opportunity. Questions about the notice of funding opportunity (NFO) could be submitted until April 16, 2021, and NRCS planned to post responses on Grants.gov about two weeks before the application deadline so all potential applicants could access the same clarifications. For program-specific questions and guidance beyond Grants.gov technical support, applicants were encouraged to review the Rhode Island NRCS CIG webpage (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ri/programs/financial/cig/) and could contact the Rhode Island point of contact, Joseph Bachand, by email at joseph.bachand@usda.gov or by phone at 401-822-8818.
In terms of timing after submission, NRCS anticipated making project selections by July 10, 2021, and expected to execute (finalize) awards by September 30, 2021. The official opportunity listing identifies the funding opportunity title as "Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 - Rhode Island" with funding opportunity number USDA NRCS RI CIG 21 NOFO0001075, published March 18, 2021, and closing May 18, 2021.Apply for USDA NRCS RI CIG 21 NOFO0001075
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 – Rhode Island" 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 Mar 18, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2021. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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 (FAQ) - USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) FY 2021 (Rhode Island)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) competition for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 in Rhode Island. It is a competitive (discretionary) grant program intended to spark new ideas and speed up real-world use of innovative conservation practices and technologies.
2) What is the main purpose of the Rhode Island CIG competition?
The overall purpose is to stimulate the development, testing, and adoption of innovative approaches that improve conservation outcomes in agriculture and natural resource management.
3) Is this opportunity limited to Rhode Island projects?
Yes. This specific notice is limited to projects that will be carried out within the state of Rhode Island.
4) What is the broader federal program this falls under?
This Rhode Island competition sits within the broader NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program under CFDA 10.912, focused on agriculture, environmental improvement, and natural resources conservation.
5) How much total funding was available for the Rhode Island competition?
NRCS made up to $160,000 total available for the Rhode Island state competition for FY 2021.
6) How many awards did NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expected to make about two awards, but the final number could vary depending on proposal merit and program priorities.
7) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
Individual awards could be as large as $150,000.
8) Could one project receive most of the total funding?
Yes. Because the award ceiling ($150,000) is close to the total amount available ($160,000), one large project could take most of the available pool. Alternatively, NRCS could fund multiple smaller proposals depending on merit and priorities.
9) How long can a funded project run?
Projects can run from one to three years.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is intentionally broad: virtually all non-federal entities and individuals may apply. The only explicit exclusion is federal agencies.
11) Are individuals allowed to apply?
Yes. Individuals are listed as eligible applicants.
12) Are for-profit organizations eligible (including small businesses)?
Yes. For-profit organizations, including small businesses, are eligible.
13) Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible.
14) Are universities and colleges eligible?
Yes. Public and private institutions of higher education are eligible.
15) Are state, county, or local governments eligible?
Yes. State, county, and local governments are eligible, along with special districts and independent school districts.
16) Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible.
17) Are public housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible.
18) Which applicants are not eligible?
Federal agencies are explicitly excluded.
19) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
20) What does it mean that this is a discretionary opportunity?
It means awards are made through a competitive selection process rather than being distributed by a formula allocation.
21) What is the official funding opportunity title?
The official title is "Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2021 - Rhode Island."
22) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS RI CIG 21 NOFO0001075.
23) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was published March 18, 2021, and it closed May 18, 2021.
24) How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
25) What was the application deadline and time zone?
The deadline was 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 18, 2021.
26) What should applicants know about Grants.gov registration?
The notice highlighted that Grants.gov registration can take time and pointed new users to instructions in Section D.1 for the steps needed before submission (typically account setup and validation).
27) Who should be contacted for Grants.gov technical problems?
For technical problems with the Grants.gov system, applicants were directed to contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
28) Can NRCS awarding staff help with Grants.gov account issues?
No. The notice emphasizes that NRCS awarding staff cannot help with Grants.gov account issues.
29) Was there a formal question-and-answer window for this notice?
Yes. Questions about the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) could be submitted until April 16, 2021.
30) When were NRCS responses to applicant questions expected to be posted?
NRCS planned to post responses on Grants.gov about two weeks before the application deadline so all potential applicants could access the same clarifications.
31) Where could applicants find program-specific guidance for the Rhode Island CIG competition?
Applicants were encouraged to review the Rhode Island NRCS CIG webpage at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ri/programs/financial/cig/.
32) Who was the Rhode Island point of contact for this opportunity?
The Rhode Island point of contact listed in the notice was Joseph Bachand.
33) How can the Rhode Island point of contact be reached?
Joseph Bachand could be reached by email at joseph.bachand@usda.gov or by phone at 401-822-8818.
34) When did NRCS anticipate making selections?
NRCS anticipated making project selections by July 10, 2021.
35) When did NRCS expect to execute (finalize) awards?
NRCS expected to execute awards by September 30, 2021.
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