USDA-NRCS-ACEP-SC-18-05 FULL ANNOUNCEMENT.pdf

SUMMARY INFORMATION

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

Funding Opportunity Title: Easement Monitoring Services

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NRCS-ACEP-SC-18-05

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: I 0.931

Funding Opportunity Announcement Summary

NRCS, an agency under the USDA, in the South Carolina State Office, is responsible, from a practical and legal standpoint, to enforce easements effectively and to detect violations. To prevent violations, and encourage proper participation, NRCS is seeking assistance to monitor conservation easements for compliance with terms of the warranty easement deed and ensure the operation and maintenance plan for restoration practices is implemented to NRCS standards.

NRCS has $175,000 available for a 3-year agreement with a qualifying local or state government entity or any non-government organization who has the common goal of helping people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.

Proposals are requested from Federally recognized tribal governments, State and local units of government, non-governmental organizations, and institutions of higher learning for competitive consideration of grant or agreement awards for projects 3 years in duration.

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

Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice.

Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant.

Key Dates

Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on June 22, 2018. Applicants will be notified of their award status within approximately 30 days from the deadline date.

Applicants who have been selected for funding will receive a Letter of official notification.

Applicants shall assume that awards will be made by or about July 25, 2018, and should prepare their application accordingly. Applicants should plan their projects based on a project start date of September 15, 2018.

Federal Funding Floor and Ceiling Amounts

The funding floor for this announcement $175,000 and the funding ceiling is $175,000. The funding floor means the minimum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. The ceiling is the maximum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The authorizing statutes and regulations for this opportunity are found under the Agricultural Conservation Enhancement Program: Food Security Act of 1985, Title Xll, Part Subtitle D, Section 123 7, Public Law 99-198, as amended by Agricultural Act of 2014, Title II, Part Subtitle D, Section 2301, Public Law 113-79, 128 Stat. 731 -744, 16 U.S.C 3865 - 3865d (CFDA No. 10.931).

The purpose of this announcement is to work with partners to monitor conservation easements for compliance with tenns of the warranty easement deed and ensure the operation and maintenance plan for restoration practices is implemented to NRCS standards NRCS will accept applications under this notice for multiyear applications submitted by eligible entities.

B. FEDERAL AW ARD INFORMATION

1. Estimated Funding

The total amount of Federal funding the agency expects to award through this announcement is $175,000.

2. Start Dates and Performance Periods

Projects will be 3 years in duration. Applicants should plan their projects based on a project start date of September 15, 2018.

3. Type of Federal Award

The agency plans to award a cooperative agreement pursuant to this opportunity.

The agency will be substantially involved in the work performed under the agreement. This would include NRCS collaboration or participation, or close NRCS oversight and control. This could include:

a. Authority to suspend work if specifications or work statements are not met;

b. Review and approval of one stage of work before another may begin;

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 of the work because of interrelationships with and impacts on other projects;

f. Review and approval of key personnel; or

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

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.

4. Submission Dates and Times Applicants may submit proposals via Grants.gov or via e-mail to the following address: george.wilson@wdc.usda.gov. Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m.

Eastern Standard Time on June 22, 2018. 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. Grants.gov provides an automatic acknowledgement when applications are received. Applicants who make submission via e-mail must contact George Wilson at (817) 509-3503 or george.wilson@wdc.usda.gov to confirm receipt.

5. Intergovernmental Review (if applicable) This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."

6. Funding Restrictions Funds may not be used to pay any of the following costs unless otherwise permitted by law, or approved in writing by the Authorized Departmental Officer in advance of incurring such costs:

a. Costs above the amount of funds authorized for the project:

b. Costs incurred prior to the effective date of the grant;

c. Costs which lie outside the scope of the approved project and amendments thereto;

d. Entertainment costs, regardless of their apparent relationship to project objectives;

e. Compensation for injuries to persons, or damage to property arising out of project activities;

f. Consulting services performed by a Federal employee during official duty hours when such consulting services result in the payment of additional compensation to the employee; and

g. Renovation or refurbishment of research or related spaces, the purchase or installation of fixed equipment in such spaces, and the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of buildings or facilities.

This list is not exhaustive. Questions regarding the allowances of particular items of cost should be directed to the administrative contact person listed in this announcement.