Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS SC CIG 23 NOFO0001296
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) through its FY 2023 South Carolina State Program to encourage the development, testing, and wider adoption of new and innovative conservation approaches and technologies. The focus is on projects that will be carried out in South Carolina and that advance practical conservation solutions in agriculture, environmental management, and natural resources. This opportunity is a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.912 and is intended to move promising conservation ideas from concept to real-world use, helping producers and partners adopt practices that improve resource stewardship.
For FY 2023, NRCS has up to $500,000 total available for the South Carolina CIG competition. The agency expects to make about 8 awards, with a maximum (ceiling) of $250,000 per individual award. Proposed projects can run from one to three years, giving applicants flexibility to design pilots, demonstrations, technology validations, or adoption strategies that can be completed within that timeframe. Because the ceiling is $250,000 and total funding is $500,000, applicants should plan budgets that are realistic for a state-level competitive program and that clearly tie costs to measurable conservation outcomes and deliverables.
Eligibility is broad: all non-federal entities and individuals may apply, with the only explicit exclusion being federal agencies. In other words, the competition is open to a wide range of applicants (such as universities, conservation organizations, local governments, producer groups, companies, and individual innovators), as long as the project itself is carried out in South Carolina and the applicant meets the specific eligibility requirements described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO), particularly in the section referenced for eligibility details.
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 5, 2023. NRCS emphasizes that first-time or new Grants.gov users should start early, because completing the registrations and steps required to submit can take significant time. If an applicant runs into technical problems with Grants.gov, they are directed to contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. NRCS staff will not assist with setting up or troubleshooting Grants.gov accounts, so applicants are expected to work directly with Grants.gov support for submission system issues.
NRCS also outlines how applicant questions will be handled. Questions should be limited to clarifying specific requirements in the NFO (for example, confirming dates, page references, or resolving discrepancies in instructions). The agency contact listed in Section G of the NFO is the appropriate channel for those content-specific questions. NRCS notes that it will not respond to questions about whether a particular applicant is eligible or whether a specific project idea is likely to be competitive, so applicants should rely on the written criteria and instructions in the NFO when shaping their proposals.
To support prospective applicants, NRCS scheduled an informational webinar on May 11, 2023, with sessions at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Eastern Time. Participation details were to be posted on the NRCS website page connected to EQIP and related initiatives: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives. Applicants are encouraged to review that page to learn more about the South Carolina State CIG program and any state-specific priorities or guidance that may affect how proposals are framed.
Finally, NRCS provided an estimated timeline for decisions and award processing. The agency anticipated making selections by June 23, 2023, and expected to execute awards by September 20, 2023, although these dates were stated as estimates that could change. The official listing identifiers for this opportunity include the title "NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 - South Carolina," the opportunity number "USDA NRCS SC CIG 23 NOFO0001296," and a posting (creation) date of April 26, 2023.Apply for USDA NRCS SC CIG 23 NOFO0001296
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 – South Carolina" 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 Apr 26, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 05, 2023 Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 1159 pm Eastern Time on June 5, 2023. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) South Carolina State Program?
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) through its FY 2023 South Carolina State Program to encourage the development, testing, and wider adoption of new and innovative conservation approaches and technologies. The program is designed to move promising conservation ideas from concept to real-world use and support practical conservation solutions in agriculture, environmental management, and natural resources.
What is the CFDA number for this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.912.
How much funding is available for the FY 2023 South Carolina CIG competition?
NRCS has up to $500,000 total available for the FY 2023 South Carolina CIG competition.
How many awards does NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expects to make about 8 awards under this South Carolina CIG competition.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) for an individual grant?
The maximum (ceiling) amount per individual award is $250,000.
How long can proposed projects last?
Proposed projects can run from one to three years.
Do projects need to take place in South Carolina?
Yes. The focus is on projects that will be carried out in South Carolina.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad: all non-federal entities and individuals may apply. The only explicit exclusion listed is federal agencies. Applicants must also meet the specific eligibility requirements described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO), including the section referenced for eligibility details.
Are federal agencies allowed to apply?
No. Federal agencies are explicitly excluded.
What types of applicants may be able to apply under this opportunity?
The competition is open to a wide range of non-federal applicants, such as universities, conservation organizations, local governments, producer groups, companies, and individual innovators, as long as the project is carried out in South Carolina and the applicant meets the NFO eligibility requirements.
What kinds of projects is NRCS looking to fund?
NRCS is seeking projects that develop, test, and support wider adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, with an emphasis on practical conservation solutions related to agriculture, environmental management, and natural resources. Projects may include pilots, demonstrations, technology validations, or adoption strategies that can be completed within one to three years.
When is the application deadline?
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 5, 2023.
How must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
Should first-time Grants.gov users do anything differently?
Yes. NRCS emphasizes that first-time or new Grants.gov users should start early because registrations and the required submission steps can take significant time.
Who do applicants contact for Grants.gov technical problems?
Applicants with technical problems should contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
Will NRCS staff help with setting up or troubleshooting Grants.gov accounts?
No. NRCS staff will not assist with setting up or troubleshooting Grants.gov accounts. Applicants are expected to work directly with Grants.gov support for submission system issues.
What kinds of questions will NRCS answer about the opportunity?
NRCS indicates that applicant questions should be limited to clarifying specific requirements in the NFO, such as confirming dates, page references, or resolving discrepancies in instructions.
Where should content-specific questions about the NFO be directed?
Content-specific questions should be directed to the agency contact listed in Section G of the NFO.
Will NRCS tell an applicant whether they are eligible?
NRCS notes that it will not respond to questions about whether a particular applicant is eligible. Applicants should rely on the written criteria and instructions in the NFO.
Will NRCS advise whether a specific project idea is likely to be competitive?
No. NRCS states it will not respond to questions about whether a specific project idea is likely to be competitive. Applicants should use the written criteria and instructions in the NFO to shape proposals.
Was an informational webinar offered for this funding opportunity?
Yes. NRCS scheduled an informational webinar on May 11, 2023, with sessions at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm Eastern Time.
Where were the webinar participation details expected to be posted?
Participation details were to be posted on the NRCS website page connected to EQIP and related initiatives: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives
Where can applicants find additional information about the South Carolina State CIG program and any state-specific priorities?
Applicants are encouraged to review the NRCS EQIP and related initiatives page (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives) for information related to the South Carolina State CIG program and any state-specific priorities or guidance that may affect proposals.
When did NRCS estimate it would make selections?
NRCS anticipated making selections by June 23, 2023. These dates were provided as estimates and could change.
When did NRCS estimate it would execute awards?
NRCS expected to execute awards by September 20, 2023. These dates were provided as estimates and could change.
What is the official opportunity title?
The official title is "NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 - South Carolina."
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is "USDA NRCS SC CIG 23 NOFO0001296."
What is the posting (creation) date for this opportunity?
The posting (creation) date is April 26, 2023.
How should applicants think about budgeting given the total funding and award ceiling?
Because the ceiling is $250,000 per award and total funding is $500,000, NRCS indicates applicants should plan realistic budgets for a state-level competitive program and clearly tie costs to measurable conservation outcomes and deliverables.
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