FSA Conservation Reserve Program Transition Incentive Program: Outreach, Technical Assistance, and Research Agreements

The objective of this program is to provide education on the CRP-TIP program and connect landowners with expiring CRP acres with Beginning Farmers and Ranchers and Historically Underserved Producers. Technical assistance may be provided. Another obje

This program is intended to increase awareness and enrollment in CRP-TIP in targeted States by providing outreach and technical assistance about CRP-TIP to members of the agricultural community, including private landowners, beginning farmers, veteran farmers and ranchers, and historically underserved farmers and ranchers. FSA will accept applications under this notice for one-to-two-year proposals submitted by eligible entities.

Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following entity types: City or township governments, County governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal governments (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education), Public, State-controlled, or private institutions of higher education, Special district governments, and State governments

Personnel, Fridge Benefits, Travel, Equipment, Supplies, Construction, Contractual, Other (Rental of facilities, training package, IT services), Indirect costs.

Funding for this program is not cyclical. Funding opportunities will be announced as funding is available and as agency priorities dictate. Project periods are provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Program funds may be released on a reimbursable project basis or deliverable basis, or an advance basis in accordance with 2 CFR 200.305.

Merit/Technical Criteria Proposal Ranking Criteria and Associated Points Possible: 1. Project narrative and project results. The number of CRP-TIP Project Types addressed, project goals, and how results and impacts will be measured and/or evaluated. The number of priority States covered in the project. The geographic area to be covered. (0-25 points). 2. Provides for direct technical assistance to CRP contract holders and beginning farmers and ranchers. Details the type of technical assistance that will be provided and how it benefits the target audience. If proposal meaningfully targets and engages beginning-, veterans, and historically underserved communities to benefit from project. (0-25 points). 3. Presents a reasonable scope of activities that can be conducted within the budget, time, and resources of the program. Objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and contain a timeline for completion. (0-10 points). 4. Amount of relevant experience and/or expertise described for required key personnel and/or entities needed to successfully complete the project (0-5 points). 5. Budget and budget narrative are reasonable and in line with proposed scope of work. Costs are described and clearly support the proposed project (0-10 points). 6. Demonstrated relevant experience to the project proposal. Project involves two or more partners from diverse disciplines and expertise to achieve project objectives and outcomes. Partners include private and public sector organizations. Partners contribute to strength and skills necessary to achieve project goals within the specified timeline. (0-15 points). 7. Communication plan is reasonable to reach various agricultural producers via outreach activities. Long-term viability of deliverables (0-10 points). Notice of selection after merit/technical evaluation does not guarantee that an applicant will receive an award. Following notification of selection for funding, the FPAC Business Center, Grants and Agreements Division's staff conducts a final administrative and risk review of those applications. The administrative review includes, but is not limited to, a check to ensure that NFO requirements were met (e.g., applicant meets eligibility criteria, application was submitted via Grants.gov by the established deadline), and proposed costs are allowable, allocable and necessary. During this process, it may be necessary to request further documentation from the applicant (e.g., organizational information as part of the risk assessment, more detail regarding proposed costs).

Review/Selection Process: Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete, noncompliant, and/or applications not meeting the formatting.

Applications are no longer being accepted.