Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- USDA-NRCS-NHQ-ACES-24-NOFO0001365
- Agency
-
National Resources Conservation Service
Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- Not on record
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
-
- 10.904 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention
- 10.912 Environmental Quality Incentives Program
- 10.916 Watershed Rehabilitation Program
- 10.921 Conservation Security Program
- 10.923 Emergency Watershed Protection Program
- 10.924 Conservation Stewardship Program
- 10.931 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
- 10.932 Regional Conservation Partnership Program
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Categories
-
- Agriculture
- Environment
- Natural Resources
- Eligible applicants
-
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is seeking nonprofit private agencies and organizations eligible under the Community Service Senior Opportunities Act to secure participants for the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program. The ACES Program utilizes the talents of individuals aged 55 and older to provide technical services in support of NRCS's conservation-related programs and authorities. While there is no direct funding available under this announcement, approved applicants will be awarded national agreements making them eligible to enter into individual agreements that provide funding for services. The application deadline is January 13, 2025, and NRCS anticipates making selections by March 1, 2025 and executing awards by May 15, 2025.
NRCS expects to make up to five awards under this opportunity, with no minimum or maximum award amount guaranteed. The geographic scope of the program includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area, and the Pacific Islands Area. New awards will be made on August 31, 2025 for a five-year period of performance.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is being released prior to appropriation and/or apportionment of funds for fiscal year 2025. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. Resulting awards will be governed by revisions to Title 2 of the CFR (2024 Revisions), including 2 CFR part 200, published on April 22, 2024, which become effective October 01, 2024. Link for more information: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/10/05/2023-21078/guidance-for-grants-and-agreements
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is directing resources towards the delivery of providing technical services in support of the conservation-related programs and authorities carried out by the Secretary. Such technical services may include conservation planning assistance, technical consultation, and assistance with design and implementation of conservation practices. These technical services are provided through the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program, established for the purpose of utilizing the talents of individuals who are age 55 or older, but who are not employees of the Department of Agriculture or a State agriculture department, to provide technical services in support of the conservation related programs and authorities carried out by the Secretary. NRCS is announcing the opportunity for nonprofit private agencies and organizations eligible to receive grants under the Community Service Senior Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq.) to secure participants for the ACES Program who will provide technical services under the program. There is no funding available under this announcement, but approved applicants will be awarded national agreements making them eligible to enter into individual agreements that provide funding for services. The area covered by the services include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). NRCS has existing agreements in place that expire August 30, 2025. New awards will be made August 31, 2025, for a five-year period. There is no minimum or maximum award amount guaranteed. It is estimated NRCS will make up to five awards to provide these services. Under the terms of the agreement NRCS provides funds, office space, position description, work assignments and oversight for the ACES positions; the awardee handles advertising, recruiting, hiring and payroll for each position. Available positions span a variety of skill sets and educational levels. In addition to wages, NRCS funds cover fringe benefits, federal payroll tax, unemployment compensation, and pay increases. ACES enrollees are neither federal employees nor state agriculture department employees, and their wages do not impact retirement annuities.
Key Dates
Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 13, 2025. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.
For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.
The agency anticipates making selections by April 1, 2025, and expects to execute awards by May 15, 2025. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.
Update #1 ·
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is being released prior to appropriation and/or apportionment of funds for fiscal year 2025. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. Resulting awards will be governed by revisions to Title 2 of the CFR (2024 Revisions), including 2 CFR part 200, published on April 22, 2024, which become effective October 01, 2024. Link for more information: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/10/05/2023-21078/guidance-for-grants-and-agreements
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is directing resources towards the delivery of providing technical services in support of the conservation-related programs and authorities carried out by the Secretary. Such technical services may include conservation planning assistance, technical consultation, and assistance with design and implementation of conservation practices. These technical services are provided through the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program, established for the purpose of utilizing the talents of individuals who are age 55 or older, but who are not employees of the Department of Agriculture or a State agriculture department, to provide technical services in support of the conservation related programs and authorities carried out by the Secretary. NRCS is announcing the opportunity for nonprofit private agencies and organizations eligible to receive grants under the Community Service Senior Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq.) to secure participants for the ACES Program who will provide technical services under the program. There is no funding available under this announcement, but approved applicants will be awarded national agreements making them eligible to enter into individual agreements that provide funding for services. The area covered by the services include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). NRCS has existing agreements in place that expire August 30, 2025. New awards will be made August 31, 2025, for a five-year period. There is no minimum or maximum award amount guaranteed. It is estimated NRCS will make up to five awards to provide these services. Under the terms of the agreement NRCS provides funds, office space, position description, work assignments and oversight for the ACES positions; the awardee handles advertising, recruiting, hiring and payroll for each position. Available positions span a variety of skill sets and educational levels. In addition to wages, NRCS funds cover fringe benefits, federal payroll tax, unemployment compensation, and pay increases. ACES enrollees are neither federal employees nor state agriculture department employees, and their wages do not impact retirement annuities.
Key Dates
Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on January 13, 2025. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.
For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.
The agency anticipates making selections by March 1, 2025, and expects to execute awards by May 15, 2025. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Current_and_Pending_Support_Table_20230404.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| FPAC-GAD9_230712V01.pdf | ||
| USDA-NRCS-NHQ-ACES-24-NOFO0001365_Full Announcement.pdf |
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