USDA-NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program Critical Conservation Area Nutrient Management Grants for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2022

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary

NRCS is announcing the availability of Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Grants funding for NRCS to eligible applicants to co-invest in impactful and innovative solutions to on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. For the 2022 application period, applications will be accepted from eligible entities for projects impacting nutrient management in NRCS RCPP Critical Conservation Areas (CCAs). Applications will not be accepted in the Prairie Grasslands CCA under this NFO. Only land management and rental activities are eligible under this NFO.

The Federal funding agency expects to award up to $40 million through this opportunity. NRCS expects to make up to seven awards under this announcement. Funding will be obligated using grant agreements. Projects may be up to five years in duration, however in special circumstances the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture may approve shorter or longer projects.

Key Dates

Applicants must submit their applications through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on October 31, 2022. 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.

For inquiries about the NFO requirements, contact the Federal awarding agency (Section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to clarifying specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.

A webinar for RCPP grant applicants is scheduled for August 30th from 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time. Access to the Microsoft Teams webinar can be obtained through the following link and/or phone number:

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The agency anticipates making proposal selections by January 2023 and completion of project negotiation and awards by June 1, 2023. These dates are projected and are subject to change.

Federal Funding Floor and Ceiling Amounts

The estimated funding floor for this opportunity is $250,000, and the estimated funding ceiling is $10 million. The funding floor is the minimum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per awarded agreement. The ceiling is the maximum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per awarded agreement. These numbers refer to the total agreement amount, not a specific budget period.

Federal Financial Assistance Training

The funding available through this NFO is Federal financial assistance. Grants 101 Training is highly recommended for additional education on Federal financial assistance. The training is free and available to the public via https://www.cfo.gov/grants-training/. The course consists of five modules covering each of the following topics: (1) laws, regulations, and guidance; (2) financial assistance mechanisms; (3) uniform guidance administrative requirements; (4) cost principles; and (5) risk management and single audit. FPAC agencies also apply Federal financial assistance regulations to certain non-assistance awards (e.g., non-assistance cooperative agreements).