Vermont NRCS FY23 Conservation Solutions Through Strategic Partnerships Announcement for Funding | USDA NRCS VT CSC 23 NOFO0001288

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS VT CSC 23 NOFO0001288

The Vermont NRCS FY23 "Conservation Solutions Through Strategic Partnerships" funding opportunity is a discretionary USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service solicitation aimed at building partnerships in Vermont to strengthen on-the-ground conservation work. The core purpose is to bring in like-minded conservation partners who can provide technical services that support conservation delivery assistance, as outlined in the announcement's Section A. In practical terms, the funding is meant to expand NRCS capacity by leveraging external organizations that can help plan, implement, or otherwise deliver conservation-related assistance tied to agriculture, environmental protection, and natural resource stewardship.

NRCS Vermont anticipates up to $1,500,000 in total funding availability for FY2023 under this announcement, with an expected 12 awards. The maximum award ceiling is listed as $1,500,000, and awards will be made through cooperative agreements, which typically indicates active involvement by the federal agency during project implementation rather than a hands-off grant structure. Project periods can run from 1 to 5 years, and applicants may submit proposals for either single-year or multi-year work, depending on the scope and design of their partnership approach.

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple levels of government and a wide range of public and private institutions. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; other Tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying under the nonprofit category). This wide eligibility list signals NRCS is open to partnerships across many types of organizations that can credibly deliver technical conservation assistance in Vermont.

Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov, with a deadline of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 27, 2023. The notice emphasizes that applicants are responsible for handling Grants.gov technical issues through Grants.gov support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), and that NRCS awarding staff will not assist with account or platform problems. Questions to the agency were intended to be limited to clarifying items found in the notice itself, such as dates, page references, or resolving inconsistencies; the agency explicitly noted that it would not address questions about whether a specific applicant is eligible or whether a particular project concept is strong.

NRCS planned an expedited review and award timeline, with selections anticipated by June 15, 2023 and awards expected to be executed by September 30, 2023, though the notice makes clear these dates were estimates and could change. The agency also stated that applications would be screened for completeness and compliance, and that the Vermont State Conservationist retains discretion not to fund any or all applications. Finally, the notice was released ahead of final appropriations or apportionment decisions, meaning actual funding availability could have been affected by federal budget actions such as continuing resolutions or an appropriations act.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Vermont NRCS FY23 Conservation Solutions Through Strategic Partnerships Announcement for Funding" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 28, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 27, 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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, 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.

Apply for USDA NRCS VT CSC 23 NOFO0001288

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