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."Apply for USDA NRCS OH ACEP 23 NOFO0001305
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Ohio NRCS Easement Programs Restoration and Repair opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal assistance funding opportunity from the Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is designed to put resources toward on-the-ground restoration and repair of degraded wetlands, floodplains, forestlands, and related upland areas in Ohio, specifically where the needs are connected to NRCS easement program lands.
What is the main goal of the program?
The program aims to improve ecological function and conservation outcomes on protected landscapes by addressing restoration and repair needs on lands tied to NRCS easement programs.
Which NRCS easement program is this opportunity connected to?
The opportunity is tied to NRCS easement work under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Background information is available from NRCS at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/acep-agricultural-conservation-easement-program.
What types of land or habitat work does the opportunity focus on?
The notice describes a focus on on-the-ground restoration and repair of degraded wetlands, floodplains, forestlands, and related upland areas in Ohio, where those needs are connected to NRCS easement program lands.
Is this funding offered as a grant or a cooperative agreement?
Funding is offered through cooperative agreements. That means NRCS expects substantial involvement and coordination with award recipients rather than a simple pass-through award.
How much funding is available?
For fiscal year 2023, NRCS indicated up to $1,340,000 was available for obligation. The notice also suggests that 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.
What is the maximum award amount?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $10,000,000.
How many awards does NRCS expect to make?
The notice anticipates making about four awards.
How long are the agreements expected to run?
Agreements are planned to run for five years.
Can additional funds be added after an agreement is awarded?
Yes. NRCS notes that additional money may be added to an agreement in later years if funding becomes available and restoration or repair needs continue.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad for entities that can carry out work in Ohio. The notice includes 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.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The notice includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses, among eligible entity types (as long as they can carry out work in Ohio aligned with the opportunity).
Are nonprofit organizations without 501(c) status eligible?
Yes. The notice explicitly includes nonprofits with or without 501(c) status.
Are universities or colleges eligible?
Yes. The notice includes private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The notice includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations.
Where must the work take place?
The notice describes work focused on restoration and repair activities in Ohio, specifically tied to NRCS easement program lands.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov.
What was the application deadline?
The deadline listed in the notice was 11:59 pm Eastern Time on July 10, 2023.
Who should be contacted if there are problems with a Grants.gov account or submission?
The notice states that Grants.gov account and submission issues must be handled through Grants.gov Applicant Support (not NRCS program staff). The support phone number provided is 1-800-518-4726, and the email is support@grants.gov.
Who should be contacted with questions about the content of the funding notice?
For questions about the content of the notice itself, applicants were directed to the federal awarding agency contact listed in the notice. NRCS indicated it would address questions about the NFO document (for example, clarifying dates or resolving discrepancies), but not questions about whether a particular applicant is eligible or whether a specific project idea is strong.
Will NRCS review a project idea in advance or confirm whether an applicant is eligible?
No. The notice states NRCS would not answer questions about whether a particular applicant is eligible or whether a specific project idea is strong; NRCS would only address questions about the NFO document (such as clarifying dates or resolving discrepancies).
When were selections expected to be announced?
NRCS expected to announce selections around August 4, 2023, but noted the date was an estimate and could change.
When were awards expected to be executed?
NRCS expected to execute awards by about September 1, 2023, while noting that timing was estimated and could change.
Is there recommended training for prospective applicants?
Yes. Because this is federal financial assistance, the notice recommends completing the free Grants 101 training hosted at https://www.cfo.gov/grants-training/.
What topics does the recommended Grants 101 training cover?
The notice states the Grants 101 training covers core federal grants topics such as governing laws and guidance, award mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit considerations.
What does NRCS emphasize about managing this type of award?
The notice frames the opportunity as federal financial assistance and highlights that successful applicants should be prepared to manage a federally funded cooperative agreement with standard compliance, documentation, and financial oversight expectations.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS OH ACEP 23 NOFO0001305.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) is 10.902.
Which agency administers this opportunity?
The administering agency is the Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
What is the official title of the opportunity?
The title is Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service Easement Programs Restoration and Repair.
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