National Resources Conservation Service

The Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a civilian sub-agency within USDA, administers federal conservation funding and contracting across land and water stewardship, wetland protection, agricultural easements, and soil conservation programs. NRCS operates as both a contracting office and a grants administrator, procuring services and equipment while funding conservation work through cooperative agreements and project grants to state and local governments, nonprofits, and tribal entities.

NRCS has awarded 31,035 federal contracts totaling $3.2 billion in combined potential value since 1999, with $2.93 billion obligated (91% of potential). Recent contract volume declined significantly: 867 awards in 2022, 912 in 2023, 857 in 2024, then 395 in 2025 and 395 year-to-date in 2026. The competitive landscape is highly fragmented; the top five primes by award count cover only 14% of recent awards. New TECH Solutions, Inc. leads by count with 163 awards and $58.3 million combined potential value over the last five years, followed by Essnova Solutions, Inc. (96 awards, $3.2 million) and Steelcase Inc. (92 awards, $6.1 million). By potential value, concentration remains minimal at 3% of combined value, with the same New TECH Solutions topping the ranking at $58.3 million. The portfolio spans 5,831 distinct prime contractors. Approximately 71% of awards carry no set-aside designation; small-business set-asides (including 8(a) sole source, competitive 8(a), Emerging Small Business, HUBZone, and woman-owned small business) account for roughly 24% of awards combined, while other SBA categories represent less than 1% each.

NRCS has awarded 27,883 federal grants totaling $8.58 billion in combined federal dollars obligated since 1995, with non-federal matching bringing the combined total to $8.82 billion. Grant awards have decelerated sharply: 1,167 awards in 2023, 1,183 in 2024, 447 in 2025, 125 year-to-date in 2026, and 1 recorded award in 2027. Grant recipients are highly fragmented; the top five by award count cover only 5% of recent awards and top five by federal dollars cover 7%. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation leads by federal dollars at $408.6 million across 20 awards, followed by Pheasants Forever, Inc. ($98.7 million, 47 awards) and The American Farmland Trust ($59.3 million, 25 awards). The portfolio spans 5,941 distinct recipients. Cooperative Agreements dominate the assistance-type mix at 58% of awards; Project Grants comprise 42%, with Block Grants and Formula Grants representing negligible shares.

A recent representative grant opportunity is Easement Restoration and Stewardship (USDA-NHQ-ACEP-26-NOFO0001456), a Cooperative Agreement funding restoration and stewardship of wetland and floodplain easements under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and Emergency Watershed Protection Program. The notice was posted September 25, 2026, with a due date of November 19, 2026, and is open to higher-education institutions, tribal governments and organizations, city and county governments, nonprofits, small businesses, and for-profit entities.

From the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service works with landowners through conservation planning and assistance to foster healthy ecosystems.