Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS CA 22 MULTI NOFO0001194
The 2022 California Conservation Cooperative Agreements opportunity (USDA-NRCS-CA-22-MULTI-NOFO0001194) is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California. It is structured as cooperative agreements, meaning NRCS expects an active partnership role rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant. The overall purpose is to strengthen implementation of NRCS conservation programs across California by funding outreach and conservation organizations that can help NRCS deliver Farm Bill conservation assistance and expand conservation outcomes on the ground.
Funding is expected to be relatively small per project but spread across multiple awards. Individual awards are anticipated to range from $25,000 to $75,000 (federal share), with up to $1,000,000 potentially available under the announcement and an estimated 15 awards. NRCS notes the announcement was released prior to final appropriation or apportionment for fiscal year 2022, so final funding levels could shift depending on continuing resolutions or a final appropriations act. The stated floor and ceiling refer to the total federal amount per agreement rather than being limited to a single budget period.
Project proposals are expected to align with NRCS California priorities focused on making California agriculture more resilient through climate-smart approaches. NRCS indicates it will prioritize projects that address six specific resource concerns: plant productivity and forest health, air quality, water quality, water quantity, soil health/soil quality, and wildlife habitat. These focus areas are tied directly to the NRCS California Strategic Plan, and proposals that clearly connect planned activities to measurable improvements in one or more of these areas are positioned as stronger matches for the solicitation.
A major emphasis of the opportunity is direct technical assistance that supports NRCS staff and accelerates delivery of Farm Bill conservation programs. While the notice does not list every eligible activity in the excerpt provided, the framing signals that NRCS wants partners who can help with program implementation in practical ways, such as landowner or producer outreach, application assistance, conservation planning support, and coordination that helps move producers from interest to enrollment and implementation. The notice also explicitly warns applicants not to submit Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) proposals under this announcement, since CIG is advertised separately and has different goals and requirements.
Eligibility is broad and designed to encourage a wide partnership network. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status. NRCS also highlights an ongoing priority to build a full spectrum of partnerships that includes Tribes, urban producers, and organizations serving Historically Underserved farming, ranching, and forestry communities, reflecting an intent to expand conservation participation and benefits across all California communities.
Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (8:59 pm Pacific Time) on June 1, 2022. NRCS advises that applicants experiencing technical problems must work directly with Grants.gov Applicant Support, and that NRCS awarding agency staff cannot help with Grants.gov account issues. For questions about the notice itself, applicants are directed to the federal awarding agency contact listed in the NFO, with the caveat that NRCS will generally only answer questions that clarify the published requirements (for example, dates or discrepancies) and will not provide feedback on eligibility edge-cases or the competitiveness of a specific project concept. NRCS projected an internal timeline of selections by June 15, 2022, with awards expected to be executed by September 15, 2022, while noting these dates were estimates and could change.
The opportunity is connected to multiple NRCS Assistance Listings (formerly CFDA) program areas listed on SAM.gov, including the Conservation Reserve Program (10.069), Conservation Technical Assistance (10.902), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (10.912), Conservation Stewardship Program (10.924), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (10.931). This signals that funded cooperative agreements may support outreach and implementation work that complements these program authorities, even if the agreement itself is not identical to a direct producer cost-share contract under those programs.
Finally, NRCS emphasizes that this funding is federal financial assistance and points applicants to free "Grants 101" training hosted by the CFO Council (cfo.gov) covering laws and regulations, assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit. This is a practical hint that applicants, especially those newer to federal assistance, should be prepared for standard compliance expectations around budgeting, allowable costs, reporting, and documentation that typically accompany cooperative agreements.Apply for USDA NRCS CA 22 MULTI NOFO0001194
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2022 - California Conservation Cooperative Agreements" 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 Apr 08, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2022. (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 15 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), 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 2022 California Conservation Cooperative Agreements (USDA-NRCS-CA-22-MULTI-NOFO0001194)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the 2022 California Conservation Cooperative Agreements opportunity (USDA-NRCS-CA-22-MULTI-NOFO0001194), a discretionary federal funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California. The purpose is to strengthen implementation of NRCS conservation programs across California by supporting partners that can help NRCS deliver Farm Bill conservation assistance and expand conservation outcomes on the ground.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
It is structured as a cooperative agreement. NRCS expects to play an active partnership role in the funded work, rather than issuing a pass-through grant with minimal federal involvement.
What is the overall goal of the projects NRCS wants to fund?
NRCS is looking for projects that help implement NRCS conservation programs in California, with an emphasis on practical support that helps deliver Farm Bill conservation assistance and leads to measurable conservation outcomes.
How much funding is available under this announcement?
NRCS indicated up to $1,000,000 may be available under the announcement, spread across multiple awards. NRCS also noted the announcement was released before final fiscal year 2022 appropriation/apportionment, so final funding levels could change due to continuing resolutions or a final appropriations act.
What is the expected award size for individual projects?
Individual awards were anticipated to range from $25,000 to $75,000 in federal share per agreement.
How many awards does NRCS expect to make?
NRCS estimated approximately 15 awards.
Do the stated funding floor and ceiling apply per year or for the whole agreement?
NRCS stated that the floor and ceiling refer to the total federal amount per agreement and are not limited to a single budget period.
What priorities should a proposal align with?
Proposals are expected to align with NRCS California priorities aimed at making California agriculture more resilient using climate-smart approaches, and to clearly connect planned activities to improvements in NRCS priority resource concerns.
What resource concerns are prioritized in this opportunity?
NRCS indicated it will prioritize projects addressing one or more of these six resource concerns:
- Plant productivity and forest health
- Air quality
- Water quality
- Water quantity
- Soil health/soil quality
- Wildlife habitat
How should applicants demonstrate alignment with NRCS priorities?
Based on the notice description, stronger matches are proposals that clearly connect planned activities to measurable improvements in one or more of the prioritized resource concern areas and tie those efforts to NRCS California priorities and the NRCS California Strategic Plan.
What types of activities does NRCS emphasize for this opportunity?
A major emphasis is direct technical assistance that supports NRCS staff and accelerates delivery of Farm Bill conservation programs. The notice framing points to partner support for practical program implementation, such as landowner/producer outreach, application assistance, conservation planning support, and coordination that helps move producers from initial interest to enrollment and implementation.
Are Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) proposals allowed under this announcement?
No. The notice explicitly warns applicants not to submit Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) proposals under this announcement because CIG is advertised separately and has different goals and requirements.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Other tribal organizations
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status
Does NRCS have partnership participation priorities (for example, specific communities or producer types)?
Yes. NRCS highlights an ongoing priority to build a full spectrum of partnerships that includes Tribes, urban producers, and organizations serving Historically Underserved farming, ranching, and forestry communities. This reflects an intent to expand conservation participation and benefits across California communities.
How and where were applications submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was 11:59 pm Eastern Time (8:59 pm Pacific Time) on June 1, 2022.
What should applicants do if they have technical problems with Grants.gov?
NRCS advises applicants experiencing technical problems to work directly with Grants.gov Applicant Support. NRCS awarding agency staff cannot assist with Grants.gov account issues.
Who should applicants contact with questions about the notice itself?
Applicants were directed to the federal awarding agency contact listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO). NRCS indicates it will generally answer questions that clarify published requirements (such as dates or discrepancies), and it will not provide feedback on eligibility edge cases or the competitiveness of a specific project concept.
What selection and award timeline did NRCS project?
NRCS projected selections by June 15, 2022, with awards expected to be executed by September 15, 2022. NRCS noted these dates were estimates and could change.
Which NRCS program areas are connected to this opportunity (Assistance Listings/CFDA)?
The opportunity is connected to multiple NRCS Assistance Listings (formerly CFDA) program areas listed on SAM.gov, including:
- Conservation Reserve Program (10.069)
- Conservation Technical Assistance (10.902)
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (10.912)
- Conservation Stewardship Program (10.924)
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (10.931)
Does this mean the cooperative agreement is the same as a direct producer cost-share contract under EQIP, CSP, or other Farm Bill programs?
Not necessarily. The notice indicates the cooperative agreements may support outreach and implementation work that complements these program authorities, even if the agreement itself is not identical to a direct producer cost-share contract under those programs.
What compliance expectations apply because this is federal financial assistance?
NRCS emphasizes the funding is federal financial assistance and points applicants to free "Grants 101" training hosted by the CFO Council (cfo.gov). The training topics listed include laws and regulations, assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit. This signals standard federal compliance expectations around budgeting, allowable costs, reporting, and documentation typically associated with cooperative agreements.
Where can applicants find basic federal grants/compliance training referenced by NRCS?
NRCS points to free "Grants 101" training hosted by the CFO Council at cfo.gov, covering items such as Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit.
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