Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service Easement Programs Restoration and Repair | USDA NRCS OH ACEP 23 NOFO0001305

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS OH ACEP 23 NOFO0001305

The Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Easement Programs Restoration and Repair funding opportunity is a discretionary federal assistance program designed to put resources toward on-the-ground restoration of degraded wetlands, floodplains, forestlands, and related upland areas in Ohio. The focus is specifically on restoration and repair needs connected to NRCS easement program lands, with the broader goal of improving ecological function and conservation outcomes on protected landscapes. The program is tied to NRCS easement work under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), with background information available through NRCS at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/acep-agricultural-conservation-easement-program.

Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, meaning NRCS expects substantial involvement and coordination with award recipients rather than a simple pass-through grant. For fiscal year 2023, NRCS indicates up to $1,340,000 is available for obligation. Agreements are planned to run for five years, and NRCS notes that additional money may be added to an agreement in later years if funding becomes available and restoration or repair needs continue. While the initial FY2023 figure is much smaller, the notice suggests total funding across the full life of the agreements could reach an estimated $10,000,000, depending on program discretion, federal appropriations, and the condition and needs of easements in Ohio. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $10,000,000 and anticipates making about four awards.

Eligibility is broad and includes entities that can carry out work in Ohio, such as federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c) status, private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In practical terms, NRCS is signaling that it is open to a wide mix of partners, including conservation organizations, academic institutions, and qualified private sector firms, as long as they can deliver restoration and repair activities aligned with the easement program goals.

Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov, with the deadline listed as 11:59 pm Eastern Time on July 10, 2023. The notice emphasizes that Grants.gov account and submission issues must be handled through Grants.gov Applicant Support (not NRCS program staff), and it provides the Grants.gov support phone number (1-800-518-4726) and email (support@grants.gov). For questions about the content of the notice itself, applicants were directed to the federal awarding agency contact listed in the notice, with the caveat that NRCS would only address questions about the NFO document (such as clarification of dates or resolving discrepancies), not questions about whether a particular applicant is eligible or whether a specific project idea is strong.

NRCS expected to announce selections around August 4, 2023 and execute awards by about September 1, 2023, while noting those dates were estimates and could change. Because this is federal financial assistance, the notice also recommends that prospective applicants complete the free Grants 101 training hosted at https://www.cfo.gov/grants-training/, which covers core federal grants topics like governing laws and guidance, award mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit considerations. This is essentially a reminder that successful applicants must be ready to manage a federally funded cooperative agreement with standard compliance, documentation, and financial oversight expectations.

Key identifying details for the opportunity include the title "Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service Easement Programs Restoration and Repair," funding opportunity number "USDA NRCS OH ACEP 23 NOFO0001305," CFDA (Assistance Listing) 10.902, and the administering agency "Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service."

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service Easement Programs Restoration and Repair" 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 Jun 10, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 10, 2023. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for USDA NRCS OH ACEP 23 NOFO0001305

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