PKG00250907-instructions.pdf

Summary Information

Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department Of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)

Funding Opportunity Title: Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS' Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2019-New Jersey

Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-NJ-CIG-19-GEN0010164

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.912, Environmental Quality Incentives Program

NRCS is announcing the availability of CIG to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in the state of New Jersey. A total of up to $150,000 is available for CIG in FY 2019. All non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2019 is $75,000.

APPLICATIONS DUE DATE: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on July 14, 2019.

SUBMISSIONS: Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov. In addition, a PDF of the complete application must be emailed to Christine.Hall@nj.usda.gov. Submissions must be received by the time and date due. Late submissions will not be reviewed or considered.

The agency will rely on system generated date and time receipt documentation for submission made both via Grants.gov and e-mail to determine whether applications meet the submission deadline. Click here for more on how to submit an application.

The grants.gov electronic submission interface is called Workspace. Workspace is the standard way for organizations or individuals to apply for federal grants in grants.gov. Workspace allows an applicant grant team to access and edit different forms within an application simultaneously.

In addition, the forms may be filled out online or as a PDF. An overview of Workspace can be viewed at grants.gov (WEBINAR - Getting Started with Workspace: Become a Workspace Wizard).

Please allow extra time to register in Workspace because there are several preliminary registration steps before an applicant can submit the application. To register, go to www.grants.gov, click on "Applicants", then click on "Get Registered." If you have completed a prior grants.gov application, you may already have completed the registration process.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (e.g., Braille, large print, or audio tape) should contact the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Applicants are encouraged to visit the NJ NRCS website to learn more about the CIG program. Questions about this announcement can be directed to Christine.Hall@ni.usda.gov or 732-537-6051.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority

The Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program is authorized as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8). The Secretary of Agriculture delegated the authority for the administration ofEQIP, including CIG, to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who is Vice President of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). EQIP is funded and administered by NRCS under the authorities of CCC.

B. Overview

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches or private forest lands.

C. Innovative Conservation Projects or Activities

CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of:

• Approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption, including market-based and conservation finance approaches; and

• Conservation technologies, practices, and systems.

Projects or activities under CIG must comply with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations throughout the duration of the project; and

• Use a technology or approach that was studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success;

• Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservation technologies and approaches in the field;

• Adapt and transfer conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption;

• Introduce proven conservation technologies and approaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology or approach is not currently in use.

Technologies and approaches that are eligible for funding in a project's geographic area using an EQIP contract for an established conservation practice standard are ineligible for CIG

• Develop and demonstrate integrated systems with practices and management for increasing soil organic matter in high-intensity vegetable production

• Develop and demonstrate innovative management systems designed to improve soil health on grazing land,

• Develop and promotion of a soil health farmer to farmer network, in NJ to advance soil health technology (research and applied research), and implementation and adoption of soil health management systems on perennial and annual crops in NJ

3. Forest Health

• Develop and demonstrate invasive species management techniques for NJ forests

• Develop and demonstrate deer management strategies for forest regeneration

• Develop and demonstrate strategies to address forest health as it relates to

Emerald Ash Borer

4. Hydroponics

• Assess and document opportunities for NRCS conservation practice implementation in hydroponic systems

• Evaluate existing NRCS EQIP payment scenarios and Conservation Practice

Standards as it relates to hydroponic operations

• Develop an assessment that would identify number and type of hydroponic operations across NJ as well as needs and opportunities to serve these customers

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

It is anticipated that a total of up to $150,000 in funding will be available for this announcement.

The funding floor for a single award is $25,000 and the funding ceiling for a single award is $75,000.

A wards made through this announcement will be executed through a grant agreement between NRCS and the awardee.

NRCS accepts proposals for projects of one to three years in duration.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Applicant Eligibility

All non-Federal entities (NFE) and individuals, with the exception of Federal agencies, are eligible to apply for projects carried out in New Jersey. Individuals and entities may submit more than one application and may receive more than one award.

B. Project Eligibility

Project Abstract (1 page maximum).

Standard application form.

Project Narrative (15-page maximum).

Assessment of environmental impacts.

Budget Information, (12-page maximum).

Funding Restrictions

Indirect (F&A) costs.

Cost Share or Matching Funds.

Declaration of previous CIG projects involvement and past performance.

Certifications.

o o o o

Letters of support.

Risk Review Documentation applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

NFEs must obtain a DUNS and register in SAM prior to registering with Grants.gov. NFEs are strongly encouraged to apply early for their DUNS number and SAM registration.

1. Data Universal Numbering System (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. CIG 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.

2. System for Award Management (SAM) Registration: SAM is the official Federal system that consolidated the capabilities of Central Contractor Registry, Federal Agency Registration, Online Representations and Certifications Application, and Excluded Parties List System. To register, go to: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. The Federal Service Desk is available for registration assistance, and can be contacted via the Help tab at the website listed above.

D. How to Submit an Application

Applications must be submitted through the Grants.gov web portal by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on July 14, 2019 additionally applicants must email a pdf copy of the full application to Christine.Hall@nj.usda.gov.

Submitting a CIG application through www.grants.gov requires a number of tasks. There are several preliminary registration steps before an applicant can submit the application. To register in the grants.gov system, go to www.grants.gov, click on "Applicants," amd then click on "Get Registered."

If you have completed a prior grants.gov application, you may already have completed the registration process.

Please allow sufficient time to register in grants.gov, and for possible system delays. An overview of Workspace can be viewed through grants.gov (WEBINAR - Getting Started with Workspace: Become a Workspace Wizard).

Below are instructions for accessing the forms necessary to complete an application in grants.gov:

• Go to www.grants.gov.

• Select the "Applicants" tab.

• Select the "Apply for Grants" heading.

• Click on "Get Application Package." Follow all steps.

• All necessary forms are included within the grants.gov "Application Package."

• Provide the "Funding Opportunity Number" listed on page 1 of this announcement or return to the "Search Grants" section.

Applications not received by the submission due date and time will not be accepted. The emailed application must be assembled into one pdf file document in the order specified in section IV, part A. All applications must contain all of the elements of a complete package and meet the requirements described in this announcement. Grants.gov provides instructions for submitting the required application items through the portal. An application's receipt date and time will be determined by the respective system-generated documentation of receipt date and time (grants.gov provides date and time stamps for all proposals submitted through the portal).

NRCS is not responsible for any technical malfunctions or website problems related to grants.gov or emailed submissions. If you encounter issues with grants.gov, please contact the grants.gov help desk at (800) 518-4 726 or support@grants.gov. The applicant assumes the risk of any delays in application submission through grants.gov and therefore is encouraged to submit your application early to ensure there is time to work out unforeseen issues.

E. Due Date

Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on July 14, 2019. Application receipt date and time will be determined by the respective system-generated documentation of receipt date and time (grants.gov provides date and time stamps for all proposals submitted through the portal). The applicant assumes the risk of any delays in application receipt.

F. Acknowledgement of Submission

Grants.gov provides receipt of application submissions. NRCS acknowledges receipt of proposals received by the submission deadline via email. An applicant who does not receive such an email acknowledgement within 15 business days of the submission deadline, but believes the proposal was submitted on time, must contact the CIG program within 30 business days of the submission deadline. Failure to do so may result in the proposal not being considered.

G. Withdrawal

Proposals may be withdrawn by written notice at any time before award execution. Written notice of withdraw! must be signed by the applicant or an authorized representative.

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Proposals will be initially screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this announcement. Incomplete or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition prior to initiation of the peer review process.

A. Application Evaluation Criteria

Risk Criteria Evaluation In accordance with 2 CFR 200.205, NRCS will review risk posed by applicants. This screening process includes:

1) Confmning the NFE does not have an active exclusion in SAM precluding it from eligibility receipt of an award (i.e., suspended or debarred; see 2 CFR Part 180 and 1 CFR Part 417).

2) Confmning the NFE does not have adverse information located in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (F APIIS).

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