2018 RCPP APF.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

Commodity Credit Corporation Financial Assistance Programs Division

Programs Deputy Area

Regional Conservation Partnership Program The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is authorized by Subtitle I of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (the 1985 Act), as amended by Section 2401 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Act). The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority to administer RCPP to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who is Vice President of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). NRCS is an agency of the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Announcement No. USDA-NRCS-NHQ-RCPP

For Fiscal Year 2018

Date Issued: January 12, 2017

USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex (including gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Announcement for Program Funding

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.932

DATES: Applications must be received by NRCS before 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time).

Pre-proposal applications due: April 21, 2017 Announcement of selected pre-proposals: Week of June 26, 2017 Full proposal applications due: August 31, 2017 Announcement of selected full proposals: November, 2017

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

NRCS is the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) conservation agency working with farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners nationwide to identify and address natural resource objectives in balance with operational goals in order to benefit soil, water, wildlife, and related natural resources locally, regionally, and nationally. NRCS works in partnership with other entities to accelerate getting conservation on the ground.

Through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners in innovative, workable and cost-effective approaches to benefit farming, ranching, and forest operations, local economies, and the communities and resources in a watershed or other geographic area.

RCPP partners develop project applications, as described in this notice, to address specific natural resource objectives in a proposed area or region. Partnering organizations design, promote, implement, and evaluate the project outcomes.

NRCS will select final RCPP projects following a two-phase application process that includes: (1) a pre-proposal application; and (2) a full proposal application. NRCS will assess and evaluate RCPP project applications against four criteria—solutions, contributions, innovation, and participation. The full proposal process is only open to applicants whose pre-proposal applications are selected by the agency to go forward from the pre-proposal stage. All RCPP applications become the property of NRCS for use in the administration of the program and will not be returned to the applicant.

RCPP federal assistance is delivered in accordance with the authorities of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP), and in certain geographic areas, the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention program. NRCS and partners implement RCPP projects by working with agricultural producers and owners of agricultural and forest land.

The purpose of this notice is to announce the availability of CCC funding for RCPP and to solicit applications from potential partners. Subject to fiscal year (FY) 2018 appropriations, NRCS anticipates the availability of up to $252.6 million in funding for RCPP. RCPP is not a grant program. Through RCPP, NRCS works with partners to provide a combination of financial and technical assistance to help producers implement conservation practices. Applications will be accepted from all 50 States, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), and U.S. territories in the Pacific Island Areas (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).

Table of Contents

ADDRESSES:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority B. Vision and Goals of the Program C. Overview of the RCPP Application and Selection Process

II. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Partner Eligibility B. Land Eligibility

III. FUNDING AVAILABILITY

A. Fiscal Year 2018 Estimated Total RCPP Funding B. Fund Pools and Funding Priorities C. Alternative Funding Arrangements

IV. PRE‐PROPOSAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS

A. Format and Instructions B. Content

V. FULL PROPOSAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS

A. Overview of the Requirements B. Detailed Application Requirements

VI. APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND REVIEW

A. Definition of Success and Reviewing Criteria

B. Review Process C. Environmental Review Requirements

VII. AWARD INFORMATION AND ADMINISTRATION

A. Partnership Agreements B. Reporting Requirements C. Notifications D. Withdrawal of Applications

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS

APPENDIX A.—DEFINITIONS

APPENDIX B.—NRCS STATE CONSERVATIONISTS (STC)

APPENDIX C.—SUMMARY OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND TERMS

APPENDIX D.— ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) OR IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)……………..46

APPENDIX E.— DATA ENTRY TOOL ELEMENTS FOR PRE‐ AND FULL PROPOSALS

APPENDIX F.— ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS…

ADDRESSES:

Applicants may submit applications through any one of the following three methods:

1. Email: RCPP@wdc.usda.gov (Preferred submission method).

Applicants may submit pre-proposal and full proposal applications as described in section IV or V to the RCPP email address shown above. A Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and current registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not required at the pre-proposal stage, but must be obtained if the applicant is invited to submit a full proposal. The standard forms must be completed in accordance with: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/?cid=stelprdb1257063.

2. Mail (Registered or Certified Mail will not be accepted):

Mark A. Rose, Director Financial Assistance Programs Division Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service RCPP Application P.O. Box 2890 Washington, D.C. 20013-2890

3. Grants.gov:

Applicants may submit pre-proposal and full proposal applications as described in section IV or V via Grants.gov. Please note that the Grants.gov electronic submission system is relatively complex for first-time users and involves several preliminary registration steps before the applicant can submit the application. To register, go to www.grants.gov, click on “Applicants”, and then click on “Get Registered.”

If you have completed a prior application, you may already have completed the registration process. Please allow sufficient time to submit the application electronically in grants.gov and for possible computer delays.

For registered applicants to submit an application:

1. Go to www.grants.gov. Information about submitting an application using Grants.gov is located on the

Grants.gov Web site with supplementary materials.

2. Select the Applicants tab.

3. Select the Apply for Grants heading, click on Apply for Grants.

4. Follow all steps. Select “Download a Grant Application Package” and enter the CFDA number 10.932.

5. Submitting an RCPP application through Grants.gov requires completing a variety of standard forms including requiring applicants to include a DUNS number and current registration in SAM in order to submit either a pre-proposal or a full proposal.

NRCS will not consider applications that do not meet the application requirements, are incomplete, are submitted after the deadline date listed in this notice, or are submitted via Registered or Certified Mail, submitted by facsimile, or delivered by courier.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.)

should contact the USDA TARGET Center at: (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

For additional information contact:

Mark A. Rose, Director Financial Assistance Programs Division Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service RCPP Application P.O. Box 2890 Washington, D.C. 20013-2890 Telephone: (202) 720-1844; email: mark.rose@wdc.usda.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is authorized by Subtitle I of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (the 1985 Act), as amended by Section 2401 of the Agricultural Act of 2014. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority to administer RCPP to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who is Vice President of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). NRCS is an agency of USDA.

. RCPP assistance is delivered through the authorities and rules of the following programs, referred to throughout this notice as “covered programs”:

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-3839-8; 7 CFR part 1466;

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), 16 U.S.C. 3838d–3838g; 7 CFR part 1470;

Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP), 16 U.S.C. 6571–6578; 7 CFR part 625;

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), 16 U.S.C. 3865–3865d; 7 CFR part 1468; and For Critical Conservation Areas only: Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention program (hereafter

Watershed Authorities), 16 U.S.C. 1001, et seq.; 7 CFR part 622. Please note that Watershed Authorities are not covered programs as defined in statute and the adjustment of terms discussed below does not apply. We include the authority here to simplify terminology.

Delivering Assistance through Covered Programs

NRCS provides RCPP assistance to project participants in accordance with the authorities and rules of the covered programs. Applicants identify the specific conservation activity and the appropriate covered program for delivery. For example, a watershed-scale drought mitigation project may be delivered through EQIP and CSP, allowing for implementation of on-farm irrigation improvements and enhancements. In this case the applicant would estimate the financial and technical assistance funds (EQIP) and acres to be treated (CSP) for each program to accomplish the project objective. In other cases, for example to achieve wildlife habitat and agricultural viability objectives, easements through ACEP may be the appropriate program authority, or in a combination with EQIP and CSP.

Adjustment of Program Terms

RCPP allows some flexibility to adjust the terms of ACEP, CSP, EQIP, and HFRP in order to help to achieve the purposes of the program. This flexibility applies only to the non-statutory regulatory terms or provisions of a covered program and does not extend to Watershed Authorities. For example, terms that may be adjusted include:

a. Operational guidance and requirements for a covered program.

b. Proposing use of an interim conservation practice standard or request a waiver for requirements to use a NRCS conservation practice standard.

c. Use of a threshold score to approve applications without further evaluation prior to the end of an application or ranking period.

d. Modifying program application ranking criteria for applications within the RCPP project area.

Applicants seeking to adjust program terms should contact NRCS for additional information while developing their pre-proposals to confirm whether the particular adjustment is non-statutory. Statutory requirements are not subject to this flexibility; for example NRCS cannot adjust:

a. Payment rates to exceed the maximum payment limitation of the estimated incurred cost for practice implementation to all EQIP participants.

b. Eligibility requirements such as compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation

Provisions, program land eligibility, or participant eligibility.

c. Compliance with other applicable federal laws (e.g., National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (Section 404 and other permits), Endangered Species Act, etc.)

Applicants must provide a detailed explanation of anticipated Adjustment of Program Terms in their pre-proposals and full proposals. Approval is on a case-by-case basis.

Adjusted Gross Income Limitation Waiver

RCPP allows waiver of the Adjusted Gross Income AGI limitations for participating producers if the Chief determines that the waiver is necessary to fulfill the objectives of the project. Applicants should indicate in their pre-proposals and full proposals if they anticipate that AGI waivers will be requested. Blanket AGI waivers will not be granted. Refer to Appendix A for AGI Waiver definition.

B. Vision and Goals of the Program

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is an innovative approach to investing in natural resource conservation that empowers partnerships to design solutions and deliver specific, measurable results. RCPP draws on local knowledge and networks to accelerate progress on critical conservation projects.

Partners are in the driver’s seat with technical and financial help from NRCS. Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to achieve:

1. Solutions. Investing in projects that generate near-term results that are measurable from environmental, economic, and social perspectives.

2. Contributions. Leveraging the Federal resources to at least double the total investment in conservation projects.

3. Innovation. Promoting innovative projects that integrate multiple conservation approaches to deliver comprehensive and measurable solutions.

4. Participation. Maximizing the number of partners and participants, including those with a proven track record and those new to NRCS-administered conservation programs, to participate in and contribute to projects.

Successful RCPP proposals will bring an array of financial and technical capabilities to projects, will demonstrate experience with working effectively and collaboratively with agricultural producers and private forest landowners across the landscape, and will present innovative, sustainable and measurable approaches to achieving important conservation goals.

Environmental Markets and Conservation Finance: NRCS encourages RCPP applications that support environmental markets and conservation finance projects. For over a decade, NRCS has been a Federal leader in supporting the development of environmental markets, primarily water quality trading and greenhouse gas markets. In addition, recent years have seen a growing interest in leveraging private capital markets to foster impact investments in conservation, sustainable agriculture, and forestry. Potential applicants are advised that RCPP funding could serve to leverage opportunities associated with environmental market projects and conservation finance transactions.

C. Overview of the RCPP Application and Selection Process

NRCS is soliciting applications for fiscal year 2018 funding in this current announcement. RCPP project selection follows a two-phase application and evaluation process that includes a pre-proposal and full proposal application.

Applicants submit pre-proposals and full proposals in accordance with Part IV and Part V of this notice. NRCS will conduct thorough evaluations of pre-proposals and full proposals in accordance with Part VI of this notice.

The full proposal process is only open to applicants whose pre-proposal applications are selected by NRCS for further consideration. The agency decision for development and submission of a full proposal is final and there is no appeal process or opportunity for reconsideration.

Upon selection of final proposals for funding, NRCS will work with lead partners to develop and finalize Partnership Agreements for the project. A negotiation phase is part of the Partnership Agreement development process to ensure that each project is fully scoped and resourced to achieve identified objectives. All RCPP funds are provided in accordance with the final Partnership Agreement.

Applicants may submit preproposals that expand upon or augment previously funded RCPP projects. In these instances, applicants must clearly state in the preproposal how the new project differs from the previously funded project. All applicants should review all the materials for this APF before submitting a proposal similar to one made in a prior funding round to ensure that any changes under the current APF are accounted for in the preproposal.

II. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Partner Eligibility

Eligible partners include:

An agricultural or silvicultural producer association or other group of producers;

A State or unit of local government;

An Indian Tribe;

A farmer cooperative;

A water district, irrigation district, rural water district or association, or other organization with specific water delivery authority to agricultural producers;

A municipal water or wastewater treatment entity;

An institution of higher education; and An organization or entity with an established history of working cooperatively with producers on agricultural land, as determined by NRCS, to address— o Local conservation priorities related to agricultural production, wildlife habitat development, or nonindustrial private forest land management, or o Critical watershed-scale soil erosion, water quality, sediment reduction, or other natural resource issues.

Individual producers and landowners are not eligible to submit project applications under this notice. However, once NRCS selects a project and establishes a Partnership agreement, individual producers and landowners may apply directly to NRCS for program assistance as part of the eligible project or they may work with the partner to participate in the project.

B. Land Eligibility

Applicants must describe the type of land(s) that will benefit from the conservation activities in their proposals.

Land eligibility is guided by the program authority to be used for the activity:

1. Covered programs.—The following private and Tribal lands are eligible for enrollment:

Cropland;

Grassland;

Rangeland;

Pastureland;

Nonindustrial private forest land; and Other land incidental to agricultural production (including wetlands and riparian buffers) on which significant natural resource issues could be addressed under the program.

Public lands are eligible in EQIP under limited circumstances where an eligible producer has authority to operate on the public land (e.g., a grazing permit) for the length of the program contract.

2. Watershed Authorities. — Lands within an eligible watershed area. The size of the watershed cannot to exceed 250,000 acres, and the size of any single structure proposed for funding cannot exceed 12,500 acre-feet of floodwater detention capacity, and no more than 25,000 acre feet of total capacity.

Additional information about various aspects of the covered programs is summarized in Appendix C. Contact NRCS with any questions regarding covered program requirements.

III. FUNDING AVAILABILITY

The maximum NRCS funding available for any project (combined financial assistance and technical assistance) selected under this announcement is $10 million.

A. Fiscal Year 2018 Estimated Total RCPP Funding

The RCPP statute authorizes annually $100 million in CCC funding and reserves 7 percent of the funds and acres made available under “covered programs” (i.e., EQIP, CSP, ACEP, and HFRP) to implement the program:

Estimated Total RCPP Funding for Fiscal Year 2018

Program Estimated Funding

EQIP $ 122,500,000

CSP * $ 12,600,000

ACEP $ 17,500,000

HFRP $ 0

RCPP $ 100,000,000

Total $252,600,000

* CSP is allocated in acres. The FY 2018 funding estimate in the table is derived by calculating 7 percent of the available program acreage (700,000 acres) multiplied by $18/acre, which is the average rate established in statute (16 USC 3838g) for CSP.

Funding availability is subject to final congressional appropriations and apportionment from the Office of Management and Budget. The Federal fiscal year is October 1 to September 30. Funding will be available for project implementation activities once final project selections are made in FY 2018 and Partnership agreements are executed. Funds will be committed for the duration of the project, or through FY 2021.

B. Fund Pools and Funding Priorities

RCPP funding is allocated across three competitive fund pools as follows:

FY 2018 Funding Allocation Across Fund Pools

Fund Pool Funding Allocation FY 2018 Estimated Funding

Critical Conservation Areas 35 percent $ 88,410,000 National 40 percent $ 101,040,000 State 25 percent $ 63,150,000

Total 100 percent $252,600,000

Applicants must identify one specific fund pool in which to compete in accordance with the criteria established in this notice. Application proposals need to be distinctly different if applying under more than one fund pool.

Applicants cannot change fund pools once they have formally entered the process. For additional information on fund pools, go to:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/farmbill/rcpp/.

Critical Conservation Areas Fund Pool

USDA has designated eight Critical Conservation Areas (CCAs) that represent an opportunity for partners at a regional level to address common natural resource goals while maintaining or improving agricultural productivity. Project applications submitted for consideration through the CCA fund pool must address the resource concern priority listed for the CCA. In designating CCAs, priority was given to geographical areas with:

Significant agricultural production;

An existing plan adopted by a Federal, State, or regional authority;

Substantial need for water quality or water quantity improvements; and Producers that may have a need for assistance in meeting or avoiding a natural resource regulation.

Authorities under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (P.L. 83-566) except the Watershed Rehabilitation Program, hereafter referred to as "Watershed Authorities," are available to applicants in the CCA fund pool. Applicants requesting use of Watershed Authorities must follow all statutory and programmatic rules as outlined in 7 CFR Part 622 and the National Watershed Program Manual (Title 390, Parts 500-506), including the development of a watershed plan and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Refer to Appendix D.

If a proposed project already has an NRCS-approved PL 83-566 plan, the applicant should state the name of the plan and date completed in their RCPP application. By NEPA policy, plans older than 5 years will need to be updated to evaluate current conditions. The need for a new or updated watershed plan-EA/EIS should be accounted for in the applicant’s proposal and budget. Applicants are strongly encouraged to thoroughly review the specific requirements of the program before they begin the application process. NRCS is available to discuss and review the benefits and requirements of the Watershed Authorities; questions regarding proposed requests for use of Watershed Authorities in CCAs may be directed to: RCPP@wdc.usda.gov.

Projects in CCAs that include activities that are outside the CCA boundary are permitted, to a limited extent, so long as the project also includes a significant portion of conservation activities and resulting benefits that occur within the established CCA boundaries and the project clearly addresses the resource concerns identified for the CCA. An example is where a county is partially within the CCA but some of the project activity occurs in the part of the county that is outside of the CCA boundary; that part of the project must be integral to the overall success of the project. This relationship must be clearly identified in the proposal. For a map of the exact areas identified, please see the website at:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/farmbill/rcpp/

Resource Concerns for RCPP Projects

Project pre-proposal and full proposal applications submitted for consideration must identify the resource concern(s) to be addressed through the project. These resource concerns are applicable within all funding pools.

National resource concern priorities established under this notice include:

Excess/Insufficient Water/Drought

Water quality degradation Soil quality degradation Inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife (and invertebrates) Air quality impacts Degraded Plant Condition (Specific to certain CCA only) Energy Climate Change

NRCS will give priority to national applications that address multistate resource concerns, and applications that provide detail on how specific resource objectives will be monitored to assess outcomes.

CCA Resource Concerns Each CCA has specific resource concerns and projects must address at least one of the identified concerns listed.

State Resource Concerns

Project applications submitted for consideration through the State fund pool will address at least one of the resource concerns stated above and may also identify a State-identified priority. NRCS State Conservationists, with advice from the State Technical Committees and Tribal Conservation Advisory Councils, may also define more specific resource concerns. State priorities are available from the NRCS website at:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/farmbill/rcpp/?cid=stelprdb1254189 and State offices identified in Appendix B.

CCA included in RCPP: Resource Concern(s) Great Lakes Region (IL, IN, MI, MN, NY, PA, OH, WI)

Water quality degradation Inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife (and invertebrates)

Chesapeake Bay Watershed (DE, MD, NY, PA, VA, WV)

Water quality degradation Inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife (and invertebrates)

Mississippi River Basin (13-state area: AR, KY, IA, IL, IN, LA, MN, MO, MS, OH, SD, TN, WI)

Water quality degradation Inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife (and invertebrates) Excess/Insufficient Water/Drought

Longleaf Pine Range (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA)

Inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife (and invertebrates) Degraded plant condition Water quality degradation

Columbia River Basin (ID, OR, WA) Excess/Insufficient Water/Drought Water quality degradation Inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife (and invertebrates)

California Bay Delta (CA) Excess/Insufficient Water/Drought Water quality degradation Inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife (and invertebrates)

Prairie Grasslands Region (CO, KS, IA, MO, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY)

Inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife (and invertebrates) Degraded plant condition Excess/Insufficient Water/Drought

Colorado River Basin (AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, UT, WY)

Excess/Insufficient Water/Drought Water quality degradation Soil quality degradation Inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife (and invertebrates)

Projects competing under the State funding pool must be located entirely within one State. A funding level for State-level RCPP projects has been provided to each State Conservationist.

C. Alternative Funding Arrangements

Alternative funding arrangements provide additional flexibility for certain partners to manage the RCPP funds associated with the project. NRCS may enter into up to 20 alternative funding arrangements with multistate water resource agencies or authorities to deliver RCPP technical and financial assistance funding. The application must describe how the alternative funding arrangement will meet the goals and objectives of RCPP.

During the Partnership agreement negotiations NRCS will work closely with the multistate water resource agency or authority to develop criteria to implement the RCPP project under the Alternative Funding Arrangement.

Under an Alternative Funding Arrangement, partners have all responsibility for delivering the technical and financial assistance for implementation of the RCPP project, including assisting participants to:

Identify NRCS conservation practices or conservation enhancements to achieve outcomes of the RCPP proposal;

Develop a plan and the associated contractual agreement to install and maintain the conservation practices to address the identified natural resource concerns and objectives. This agreement will have a beginning and ending date, the practices to be installed with NRCS FA, a timeline to install these practices, operation and maintenance for the practice, and additional information needed to ensure the producer (or landowner) and partner achieve the outcomes identified in the project agreement; and

Provide technical assistance and assist producers to design and install conservation practices or conservation enhancements to meet NRCS standards and specifications.

Alternative Funding Arrangements will be implemented using a Cooperative Agreement between NRCS and the multistate water resource agency or authority. Terms and conditions of the agreement will address, but not necessarily be limited to:

Multistate Water Resource Agency or Authority:

Ensure that participating producers and landowners have farm records established with the Farm Service

Agency (FSA) and assist in the establishment of farm records with FSA as needed. NRCS may provide limited assistance to the lead partner to establish these records with FSA.

Submit to NRCS the names, business information, and tax identification numbers of producers and landowners participating in the project.

Provide AGI waiver requests to NRCS for review and a decision by the Chief. AGI waivers will be reviewed on an individual case-by-case basis.

Provide to NRCS upon completion of planning activities, a report by producer, location, a list of the NRCS practices or activities to be installed, and the payment amount made or attributed to the eligible producer.

Agree to:

o Submit an annual independent audit to NRCS that describes the use of funds;

o Provide any data necessary for NRCS to issue a report on the use of funds;

o Not use any funds provided for administration or to provide for administrative costs through contracts with another entity;

o Enter into a Cooperator Agreement to ensure the confidentiality of producer and landowner information in accordance with Section 1619 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008;

and o Meet any other requirements determined necessary by NRCS.

NRCS:

Conduct program and payment eligibility determinations (e.g., Adjusted Gross Income limitations at 7 CFR part 1400, conservation compliance requirements at 7 CFR part 12, and applicable program payment limitations) for each participating producer and landowner whose information is provided by the multistate water resource agency or authority.

Provide confirmation of producer and landowner eligibility to the multistate water resource agency or authority, including identifying if AGI waiver requests are needed for any potential participant.

Perform quality assurance reviews for a minimum of 10 percent of the installed practices and activities based on the report provided by the multistate water resource agency or authority.

Provide RCPP funding as outlined in the Cooperative Agreement.

IV. PRE-PROPOSAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS

A. Format and Instructions

Applicants must submit a pre-proposal application by the application deadline, and in accordance with the instructions found in Appendix E of this announcement. NRCS will evaluate pre-proposals according to the criteria in Part VI of this notice, and applicants should limit the content of their submittal to the information required in this Part. Pre-proposal applications consist of data worksheet and a PDF fillable form for the narratives, and maps. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications via email to RCPP@wdc.usda.gov.

In addition to fulfilling the requirements of this Part for the pre-proposal application, applicants are encouraged to read all of Part V in order to understand the additional information they will be required to submit if they are selected to advance to the full proposal step in the process. This additional information should NOT be submitted at the pre-proposal step in the process and will not be considered in the evaluation of pre-proposal applications.

Instructions can also be found on the website:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/farmbill/rcpp/

B. Content

All applicants must contact the lead State Conservationist to ensure coordination at the start of this process.

National and CCA applicants must contact the State Conservationist that is most central to the proposed project area. The lead State Conservationist or their designee will work with the applicant to explain NRCS roles and responsibilities under the program. A lead State Conservationist will be determined based on the proposed project area. Applications for all Fund Pools must also provide a copy of the pre-proposal application to the appropriate NRCS State Conservationist by email (preferred) or U.S. Postal mail. (See list of NRCS State Conservationists and their addresses in Appendix B). Any materials not specifically required will not be considered or used in the review process.

1. Data (Pre-proposal sections only):

Applicants must provide the following data items for pre-proposal applications using the FY2018 Data Entry Tool. The tool is organized by section and will guide users to input required information. Use of the tool is strongly recommended in order to gather the information needed to evaluate proposals.

a) Basic Project Information, Project Details, Executive Summary, Project Partners

b) Project Financials: Pre-proposal budget figures are considered preliminary; it is understood that there may be changes to the budget in the full proposal process. Applications must reflect the total estimated cost of the project, showing separately the federal share requested and partner leverage as follows:

1. Financial assistance (FA)—Show FA funds, with the Total Project FA Amount broken down by (See definitions in Appendix A.):

a. FA Amount being requested from NRCS by program and

b. FA Amount being contributed by the partners, by program (if appropriate.)

2. Technical assistance (TA)—Show TA funds, with the Total Project TA Amount broken down by:

a. TA Amount being requested from NRCS by program to fund:

1. NRCS TA to implement contracts and agreements with producers, landowners, and (for agricultural easements under ACEP-ALE) eligible entities to carry out the purposes of the program; and

2. Partner TA to implement conservation contracts and agreements with participants.

NRCS TA may not be used for partners’ administrative costs or for outreach.

b. TA being contributed by the partners (in-kind or cash, this may include partner funding for administrative costs) to implement the project.

c) Maps: Upload clear project maps to the data entry tool. A one-page map is sufficient unless the project area is complex. Include an overall location map showing where the project is located within the state or CCA. Submit using the JPEG format. Illustrate pertinent project boundaries, such as areas targeted for conservation.

A listing of the data elements required by the tool is found in Appendix E. Applicants can access the FY 2018 Data Entry Tool on the RCPP web page under “How to Apply”.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/farmbill/rcpp/

2. Descriptive Narratives (Pre-proposal sections only).

Narratives will be entered into the provided PDF file and uploaded to the data entry tool when completed.

Applicants must provide project narratives, which are similar to an executive summary. Narratives will describe the partners; project geographic focus; project objectives and goals; preliminary financial statement;

monitoring and evaluation plans; types and sequence of project activities; expectation of requests for adjustment of program rules, AGI waivers, or alternative funding arrangements.

Applicants can access PDF Fillable Form for Narratives on the RCPP web page under “How to Apply”.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/farmbill/rcpp/.

All narratives will be restricted to certain character lengths to ensure uniformity of applications. Add the character limits and include spaces, and font size must be a minimum of 10.

V. FULL PROPOSAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS

A. Overview of the Requirements

Full proposals will be accepted only from applicants who are notified at the end of the pre-proposal review process that NRCS has selected their application for the full proposal phase. In the full proposal phase, applicants will continue to work with the lead State Conservationist, develop, and submit a full and finalized version of their project proposal. NRCS may request additional information from individual applicants as part of the review process.

Instructions can also be found on the website:

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/farmbill/rcpp/

B. Detailed Application Requirements

The full proposal application must include the following:

1. Data Entry Tool (Appendix E). Include any needed updates within the pre-proposal section and complete the full proposal sections. Pre-proposal budget figures are preliminary; if the application is approved for full submission, it is understood that there may be differences when the budget is finalized. Final budgets of selected projects will be negotiated during the Partnership Agreement development phase.

2. Updated Maps: Submit clear detailed project map(s) as an attachment, accompanied by a narrative description of the geographic area covered by the application. Format: JPEG, 400-500 DPI resolution. A one-page map is sufficient unless the project area is complex. Include an overall location map showing where the project is located within the state or CCA. Illustrate pertinent project boundaries, such as hydrologic unit code (HUC) boundaries, species ranges, and areas targeted for conservation. Outline on the map or describe in the application the areas that need conservation treatment, and identify the number of acres involved.

3. Geographic Information System Shapefile: Provide applicable shape files (Shapefile coordinate system, request decimal degrees in WGS 84). ONLY ONE shapefile should be provided that delineates the proposal area. The proposal ID should be contained in the shapefile name and a polygon shapefile should be provided.

4. PDF Fillable Form for Descriptive Narratives. All narratives will be restricted to certain character lengths to ensure uniformity of applications.

5. Additional Items. Additional items identified below must be obtained prior to submitting a full proposal.

NRCS cannot enter into an agreement without a Lead Partner DUNS number and confirmation that they are registered in SAM. Applicants are therefore encouraged to apply early for their DUNS number and SAM registration.

a. DUNS Number. A Dun and Bradstreet DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track of over 70 million businesses worldwide.

Applicants must obtain a DUNS number. Information on how to obtain a DUNS number can be found at: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by calling 1-866-705-5711. Please note that the registration may take up to 14 business days to complete.

b. SAM. System for Award Management is the official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of the Central Contractor Registration, Federal Register, Online Representations and Certification Application, and Excluded Parties List System. To register, go to:

https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. Please allow a minimum of 5 days to complete the SAM registration.

6. Letters of Financial Contribution. Provide letters from all partners identifying all contributions, including cash and in-kind services. Amounts must match figures provided in the data entry tool, and if there is a difference, the financial contribution will be taken from the letter.

7. Letter of Intent from the NRCS Lead State Conservationist. The purpose of this letter is to show the project meets the goals, objectives, and resource concerns of the RCPP Program and that communication between the Lead Partner and NRCS has taken place. This letter is not an endorsement of the project.

State fund pool: The Lead Partner must obtain a letter from the applicable State Conservationist demonstrating that the proposal meets the intent of RCPP.

National or CCA fund pools: The Lead Partner must consult all applicable NRCS State Conservationists, however only one letter is required to demonstrate the proposal meets the intent of RCPP. The State Conservationist providing the letter will indicate collaboration with the other States.

8. Submittal of Copy to State Conservationist.

Applicants for all fund pools must also include a copy of the full proposal application to the appropriate NRCS State Conservationist by email (preferred) or U.S. Postal mail. (See list of NRCS State Conservationists and their addresses in Appendix B).

VI. APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND REVIEW

A. Definition of Success and Reviewing Criteria

RCPP is a program that encourages the alignment of NRCS’ mission with those of other organizations and businesses throughout the country. The partnership program is meant to engage public/private partnerships in innovative ways by combining and complimenting resources at the local, state, and even corporate levels. This unique program allows the opportunity for communities across the country to double the impact of federal funds and have more comprehensive conservation projects that solve their complex resource challenges.

Pre- and full proposal applications will be evaluated using the four pillars described below. Key questions under each pillar will be used to develop the ranking criteria for the FY 2018 Review Process.

Participation: The key to successful Participation is partnerships that will bring a diverse array of stakeholders into a project, greatly accelerate adoption of conservation systems in the project area, and engage participants including historically underserved audiences. The project will demonstrate recruitment and marketing strategies leading to program participation. It will also include building new partnerships at the Local, State, or corporate level and engage partners that have not worked with NRCS in the past. Key questions include:

1. Does the project include all potential collaborating partners that would be appropriate, necessary, and sufficient to achieve the stated natural resource management project goals and objectives?

2. Do the partners have a strong history of collaboration and engagement with agricultural producers and forest landowners to ensure high levels of participation?

3. Does the project identify comprehensive strategies for encouraging participation of historically underserved producers, including Socially Disadvantaged, Beginning, and Limited Resource Farmers/Ranchers?

4. Does participation in the project help to resolve pressing natural resource and social issues, such as environmental justice or persistent poverty?

5. Through recruitment and marketing efforts, what percentage of landowners within the project area is expected to participate?

6. Will recruitment and marketing efforts be targeted at those landowners who will have the greatest effect on stated project outcomes?

Innovation: RCPP is a landmark program, different from traditional NRCS programs in how projects are developed, lead, and implemented to address natural resource concerns. Applicants are challenged to draw from partners’ technical expertise and financial resources to design creative and lasting solutions to conservation issues. This will only occur if well-developed proposals have science-based solutions that are developed and submitted. Partnerships will be innovative in their approach, and successful proposals will utilize one or more program authorities (EQIP, CSP, HFRP, or ACEP) to address natural resource management concerns. Key questions include:

1. Will the project establish or demonstrate feasibility of new or emerging environmental markets or conservation investment strategies with considerable benefits for agriculture and natural resources?

Please describe.

2. Does the project propose innovative methods of conservation delivery or promising new technologies that are documented as feasible and supported by partners and participants? Please describe.

3. Will the project provide potential benefits for improving or expanding existing conservation practice standards or enhancements beyond the capacity of current practice standards?

4. Does the project use conservation systems that collectively address the primary resource concern and are based on recent scientific findings and lessons learned?

5. Have previous limitations to adoption been identified and innovative methods developed to overcome them?

6. Does the project partnership include partners with demonstrated capabilities to drive innovation, reduce risk potential, and expand conservation participation? Provide examples, and differentiate types of risk (e.g. regulatory, financial).

Contribution: Successful partnerships will bring an array of financial and technical interests and capabilities to projects such as cash contributions, technical professionals to work one-on-one with farmers and ranchers to provide planning, management and engineering activities. It may also bring experts to conduct assessments of agronomic and environmental conditions, and best management practice implementation success or performance. NRCS’ goal is to leverage funds to double the federal conservation investment with partner contributions. Key questions include:

1. What percentage of the overall project cost will come from non-federal partner resources, either their own or leveraged from other external sources?

2. What percentage of financial assistance will the partner(s) commit or leverage to achieve project objectives?

3. What percentage of technical assistance will the partner(s) commit or leverage to accomplish project objectives?

4. What unique expertise will partner(s) bring to the project to accelerate progress or enhance project success? Describe resources that partners will be contributing to the project’s development, implementation, and management.

5. Does the partnership contribute activities and services that supplement or accelerate NRCS project accomplishments and documented outcomes? For example: Marketing, outreach and education, monitoring project outcomes, and tracking the installation and maintenance of conservation systems.

Provide examples.

6. Are the intended uses of partner cash and in-kind resources clearly stated and tied to overall project objectives? (All contribution commitments must be clearly documented in contribution letters.)

7. Does the project include partners that are new to or only recently engaged in agricultural conservation activities? Describe the expertise that new partners will provide specifically to the project’s development, implementation, and management.

8. Does the project demonstrate a commitment from partners to perform specific activities as part of the project that are not typically performed by NRCS, but that are necessary for success?

Solutions: Successful partnerships will engage local organizations and communities, including historically underserved and tribal communities, to identify project objectives and design lasting solutions that are technically sound and locally supported so that benefits will extend beyond the Federal investment. The solutions identified should also be increasing the knowledge of conservation implementation utilizing private organizations to increase Conservation Planners, Technical Service Providers (TSP), or Niche Market Planners (Forestry, Environmental Markets, etc.) just as some examples.

Partners are encouraged to use the latest science; identify areas that natural resources are being challenged by agricultural land use; and, engage experts to find the solutions that will allow for focusing of funds. Partners will also need to build public outreach and engagement plans to identify and help eligible producers to sign up for NRCS’ voluntary federal conservation programs that make up RCPP. Key questions include:

1. Have the sources of the resource concern(s) been identified through recent scientific findings?

2. Does the project use NRCS or other evaluation assessment tools to prioritize conservation investments, plan appropriate mitigation and measure conservation benefits?

3. Is the project area the appropriate scale for the resource concern(s) and goals identified?

4. Does the project utilize a conservation system approach to adequately address the resource concern(s)?

5. Does the project define measurable, achievable, and results-oriented goals that address the resource concern(s) in a comprehensive and cost-effective manner?

6. Will the project implement a system of conservation practices appropriate to address the natural resource concerns, including but not limited to water quality, soil quality degradation and inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife?

7. Will the project extend or advance an existing project, either a national conservation initiative, state initiative, or an agreement? Examples include the regional Pollinator efforts, Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative, or the National Water Quality Initiative. If so, please describe.

8. Is there a history of past success within the agricultural community on projects/initiatives that focus on addressing natural resource concerns? Provide examples.

9. What activities will be implemented to ensure that the solutions will persist beyond initial establishment?

10. Are the methods and approaches, and/or results transferrable to other locations within the CCA, National or State?