NRCS 2017 National Conservation Innovation Grants APF

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection 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 EQIP eligible producers, into NRCS
technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG is used to apply or demonstrate previously proven technology in order to increase adoption, with an emphasis on opportunities to scale proven, emerging conservation strategies. CIG promotes the sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation
conducted to answer a specific conservation-related question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farm fields. Specifically, a valid study design will use an appropriate number ofreplications and statistical analysis ofresults. To the extent NRCS funds research projects through CIG, the agency will only fund on-farm research projects that stimulate innovative approaches to natural resource management in conjunction with agricultural production.

NRCS will accept proposals under this notice for single or multiyear projects, not to exceed 3 years, submitted by eligible entities from any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Eligible entities include
Indian Tribes, State and local units of government, non-governmental organizations, and individuals.

Complete proposals received by the deadline will be evaluated through a two-tier review process. The first-tier review will be performed by a technical peer review panel based on the Proposal Evaluation Criteria identified in the instructions in section V, patt B. For the second-tier review, full proposals, along with evaluations from the technical peer review panel and State
Conservationist, will be forwarded to the Grants Review Board. The Grants Review Board will make its recommendations for project approval to the NRCS Chief who will make the final selections.