NOFA_USDANRCSALMULTI.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE(USDA)

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Alabama State Office

ACTION: NOTICE

Accepting applications to assist NRCS Alabama with enhanced or accelerated implementation of the key conservation objectives described in section I B.

SUMMARY: The Alabama NRCS, an agency under the United States Department of

Agriculture (USDA), is seeking support from natural resource conservation partners to work together to help enhance conservation delivery in Alabama. The overall intent of this announcement is to solicit partnerships to help enhance the implementation of key conservation objectives and priorities outlined further in this document.

Proposals will be accepted from entities delivering conservation programs and services in Alabama. NRCS anticipates the amount of funding available for this announcement will be up to approximately $1,488,400.00 awarded to multiple FY2019 recipients. All awards are subject to the availability of funds appropriated by Congress at the time of award. Proposals are requested from eligible entities, non-profits, governmental or non governmental organizations, and institutions of higher learning for competitive consideration of awards for projects between one and five years in duration.

This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions.

Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or non-compliant applications will be eliminated from competition and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant. The Alabama State

Conservationist reserves the right not to fund any or all applications, or to only partially fund a proposal if the NRCS objectives can be reached with a reduced scope. NRCS will accept applications under this notice for single or multi-year applications submitted by eligible entities.

DATES: Applications must be received by NRCS by 12:00 p.m. CST, Friday, July 19, 2019.

Questions regarding this announcement must be submitted to the Administrative or

Technical Contact identified above by email with the Opportunity Number in the subject line. Questions must be submitted by June 26, 2019. A questions-and-answers document addressing all questions will be posted to the Alabama NRCS website where this NFO is initially published by July 1, 2019. The agency expects to make selections by July 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Applications sent via express mail, overnight courier service, or the United

States Postal Service must be sent to the following address: USDA-NRCS, 3381 Skyway Drive, Auburn, AL 36830-6443. Applications sent electronically must be sent through www.grants.gov or to steve.musser@.usda.gov with a copy to stacey.riggins@.usda.gov.

c. Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed sub-grants or contracts beyond existing Federal policy;

d. NRCS and recipient collaboration or joint participation;

e. Project monitoring to permit specified kinds of direction or redirection ofthe work because of interrelationships with and impacts on otherprojects;

£ Highly prescriptive NRCS requirements that limit recipientdiscretion;

g. Review and approval of key personnel; or

h. Direct NRCS operational involvement or participation during the activity.

The resulting agreements are expected to fund single and multi-year projects, not to exceed five years. Applicants should submit budget applications that fully describe funding requests. Multi- year budgets must be outlined completely in the SF 424A

Budget Information Non-Construction Programs.

Ill. SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. How to Obtain Materials

The announcement for this funding opportunity can be found on grants.gov.

All standard forms necessary for application submission are posted on the following Web sites:

1. Grants.gov - Forms Repository

2. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html

B. Applicant eligibility

Applicants must be federally recognized as an Indian Tribe, State or local unit of government, Community Based Organizations, College and/or University, non governmental organization, non-profit organization, or an organization or entity with an established history of working cooperatively with producers on agricultural land, as determined by NRCS, to address local conservation priorities.

All applicant categories must be capable of providing support in the State of

Alabama.

C. Applying for assistance - Content and format

Applications must contain the content, format, and information set forth below to receive consideration for funding. Applicants should not assume prior knowledge on the part of NRCS or others as to the relative merits of the project/workshop described in their application. Applicants must submit only one original copy of the application in the following format:

• Each page must be on numbered 8Yz'' x 11" paper that has one-inch margins;

Management (SAM)number.

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 5 business days to complete.

b. SAM: Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of Central Contract Registration/Federal Register, Online

Registrations and Certifications Application, and Excluded Parties List

System. To register, go to:

https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. Please allow a minimum of 7 days to complete the SAM registration.

NRCS may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time NRCS is ready to make a Federal award, NRCS may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

D. How to Submit an Application

Applications sent via express mail, overnight courier service, or the United States

Postal Service must be sent to the following address: USDA-NRCS, Stephen Musser, 3381 Skyway Drive, Auburn, AL 36830-6443. If you choose to submit your application electronically, visit www.grants.gov/apply and follow the instructions.

Applicants may submit their application electronically via grants.gov or email:

steve.musser@usda.gov with a copy to stacey.riggins@usda.gov. All applications, regardless of how they are submitted, must be received by NRCS 12:00 p.m. CST, Friday, July 19, 2019

Note: NRCS is not responsible for any technical malfunctions or Web site problems related to Grants.gov or emailed submissions. Applicants should begin the Grants.gov process or send their email in advance of the submission deadline to avoid problems.

E. Due Date

Applications must be received no later than 12:00 p.m. CST, Friday, July 19, 2019.

The applicant assumes the risk of delays in application delivery. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit completed applications early via email to ensure