Technical Assistance for Conservation Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 – NORTH CAROLINA | USDA NRCS MULTI NC 21 NOFO0001060

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS MULTI NC 21 NOFO0001060

The Technical Assistance for Conservation Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 - North Carolina opportunity is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is designed to bring in partner organizations and individuals who can help deliver on-the-ground conservation technical assistance across North Carolina, specifically targeting soil, water, animal, and plant resource concerns. Instead of focusing on construction or equipment purchases as a primary aim, this opportunity emphasizes the professional and field-based services that help farmers, landowners, and producers plan, apply for, implement, and document conservation practices tied to NRCS-supported programs.

Projects funded under this announcement are expected to strengthen NRCS capacity by leveraging partner staff, expertise, and local presence. Partners would provide technical assistance that may include developing or updating conservation plans, assembling information needed for conservation program proposals, and supporting the implementation of existing conservation contracts. The notice specifically references major NRCS financial assistance programs such as EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program, listed as CStP in the text), and AMA (Agricultural Management Assistance). In practical terms, this can involve helping producers evaluate resource concerns, select appropriate conservation practices, ensure that practices are installed to standard, and then certify and report progress so that conservation outcomes are properly tracked and contracts remain compliant.

NRCS is looking for multi-year proposals lasting between 2 and 5 years, and applicants are expected to have substantial operations in North Carolina, meaning they should have the ability to reliably deliver services in the state rather than being a purely remote or minimally present organization. The overall conservation goals are clearly stated: improving soil health, improving water quality, providing habitat for local wildlife species of concern, and improving both the environmental and economic performance of agricultural lands. These priorities reflect NRCSs broader mission of helping working lands remain productive while reducing erosion, nutrient and sediment runoff, and habitat loss, and while improving resilience and long-term profitability through better resource management.

The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies more ongoing involvement by the federal agency than a standard grant (for example, coordination on deliverables, alignment with NRCS technical standards, and shared implementation oversight). The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $450,000, with an expectation of about five awards. The program is associated with multiple CFDA (now often referenced as Assistance Listing) numbers: 10.069, 10.902, 10.912, and 10.924, reflecting the fact that the technical assistance work may support several NRCS conservation authorities and related program areas.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); and even individuals. This wide eligibility is consistent with the technical assistance focus, where qualified consultants, conservation districts, universities, nonprofits, and local governments may all play a role in delivering planning and implementation support that complements NRCS field office efforts.

Key dates were firmly defined. The announcement was created March 26, 2021, with applications due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 25, 2021. NRCS planned to notify applicants of selection decisions by July 2, 2021, with awards made by September 30, 2021. Applications were to be submitted through Grants.gov, and the notice emphasizes that Grants.gov account or system issues must be handled through Grants.gov Applicant Support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), since NRCS awarding staff will not troubleshoot applicant-side Grants.gov problems.

In short, this funding opportunity is aimed at organizations and professionals who can deliver real, measurable conservation technical services in North Carolina, helping producers move from conservation intent to completed, verified practices. It supports the planning, coordination, implementation assistance, and documentation backbone that makes NRCS conservation programs function effectively and produce lasting improvements in soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and the overall sustainability and profitability of agricultural operations.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Technical Assistance for Conservation Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 – NORTH CAROLINA" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.069, 10.902, 10.912, 10.924.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 26, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2021 Applications must be received by 1159pm 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 $450,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township 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, Individuals.

Apply for USDA NRCS MULTI NC 21 NOFO0001060

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