The USDA NRCS is offering a grant for Natural Resource Conservation in New York State

The NRCS, an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA), is seeking support and opportunities with likeminded natural resource

conservation partners in New York. Eligible applicants are invited to apply for NRCS

assistance with the following key conservation objectives. Proposals are requested that

will provide direct technical services (boots on the ground) to assist producers to plan

and/or implement conservation practices throughout New York. Emphasis will be placed

on proposals that provide direct technical assistance on critical conservation needs and

that address the following New York State priority Resource Concerns: Water Quality, Soil

Health, Wildlife, and Plant Health.

1) Development of conservation plans, conservation implementation and/or assistance

with farm bill applications/contract management. Examples:

• Development of irrigation water management plans/contracts design/

implementation of irrigation water management techniques.

• Provide technical and administrative service in support of conservation

easements programs.

• Develop conservation plans and implement conservation practices to support

declining wildlife species in NY.

• Develop forest management plans and design/implement forest conservation

practices.

• Develop conservation plans and implement conservation practices to support

Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers (Limited Resource, Beginning,

Socially Disadvantaged, Veterans, and Tribal Nations and Members)

2) Research available vendor supplied designs (for example manufactured waste storage

tanks and manufactured precast concrete wall systems), provide peer review

evaluation and recommendations to NRCS for approval use Statewide for

conservation practice implementation. See National Engineering Model (NEM) 505.15

Standard Designs and Drawings.

3) Provide field technical support to NRCS engineering personnel to expedite and

improve technical work of the agency by sharing expertise and exchanging on-the-job

training. Federal and Non-Federal work force will work together to plan, design,

implement and evaluate conservation practices for shared program participants NEM

505.14. With NRCS direct oversight, work expected would be assisting with

implementation inventory/evaluation, prepare design report, preparing construction

drawings, contract specifications, operation and maintenance plans, engineer’s

estimate, prepare quality assurance plan, construction inspection, etc.

Page 6 of 28

4) Conduct Quality Assurance and Spot-checking services of work performed by

Technical Service Providers (TSP) over the last 5 years to support NEM 505.10(4)

responsibilities. Provide a report to NRCS on each TSP’s performance.

5) Prepare planning, or engineering technical materials for NRCS review, acceptance,

and release to serve as permanent references for providing technical assistance

across the range of agency programs. Implement and deliver technical materials for

general use by the public.

6) Provide high quality imagery and data to NRCS, using a licensed Unmanned Aircraft

System (UAS) operated by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified pilot to

inform Conservation Compliance activities, planning activities and/or

implementation activities remotely.

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

Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of

this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant applications will be eliminated from

competition and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant.

The NRCS, an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA), is seeking support and opportunities with likeminded natural resource

conservation partners in New York. Eligible applicants are invited to apply for NRCS

assistance with the following key conservation objectives. Proposals are requested that

will provide direct technical services (boots on the ground) to assist producers to plan

and/or implement conservation practices throughout New York. Emphasis will be placed

on proposals that provide direct technical assistance on critical conservation needs and

that address the following New York State priority Resource Concerns: Water Quality, Soil

Health, Wildlife, and Plant Health.

1) Development of conservation plans, conservation implementation and/or assistance

with farm bill applications/contract management. Examples:

• Development of irrigation water management plans/contracts design/

implementation of irrigation water management techniques.

• Provide technical and administrative service in support of conservation

easements programs.

• Develop conservation plans and implement conservation practices to support

declining wildlife species in NY.

• Develop forest management plans and design/implement forest conservation

practices.

• Develop conservation plans and implement conservation practices to support

Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers (Limited Resource, Beginning,

Socially Disadvantaged, Veterans, and Tribal Nations and Members)

2) Research available vendor supplied designs (for example manufactured waste storage

tanks and manufactured precast concrete wall systems), provide peer review

evaluation and recommendations to NRCS for approval use Statewide for

conservation practice implementation. See National Engineering Model (NEM) 505.15

Standard Designs and Drawings.

3) Provide field technical support to NRCS engineering personnel to expedite and

improve technical work of the agency by sharing expertise and exchanging on-the-job

training. Federal and Non-Federal work force will work together to plan, design,

implement and evaluate conservation practices for shared program participants NEM

505.14. With NRCS direct oversight, work expected would be assisting with

implementation inventory/evaluation, prepare design report, preparing construction

drawings, contract specifications, operation and maintenance plans, engineer’s

estimate, prepare quality assurance plan, construction inspection, etc.

Page 6 of 28

4) Conduct Quality Assurance and Spot-checking services of work performed by

Technical Service Providers (TSP) over the last 5 years to support NEM 505.10(4)

responsibilities. Provide a report to NRCS on each TSP’s performance.

5) Prepare planning, or engineering technical materials for NRCS review, acceptance,

and release to serve as permanent references for providing technical assistance

across the range of agency programs. Implement and deliver technical materials for

general use by the public.

6) Provide high quality imagery and data to NRCS, using a licensed Unmanned Aircraft

System (UAS) operated by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified pilot to

inform Conservation Compliance activities, planning activities and/or

implementation activities remotely.

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

Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of

this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant applications will be eliminated from

competition and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant.

The NRCS, an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA), is seeking support and opportunities with likeminded natural resource

conservation partners in New York. Eligible applicants are invited to apply for NRCS

assistance with the following key conservation objectives. Proposals are requested that

will provide direct technical services (boots on the ground) to assist producers to plan

and/or implement conservation practices throughout New York. Emphasis will be placed

on proposals that provide direct technical assistance on critical conservation needs and

that address the following New York State priority Resource Concerns: Water Quality, Soil

Health, Wildlife, and Plant Health.

1) Development of conservation plans, conservation implementation and/or assistance

with farm bill applications/contract management. Examples:

• Development of irrigation water management plans/contracts design/

implementation of irrigation water management techniques.

• Provide technical and administrative service in support of conservation

easements programs.

• Develop conservation plans and implement conservation practices to support

declining wildlife species in NY.

• Develop forest management plans and design/implement forest conservation

practices.

• Develop conservation plans and implement conservation practices to support

Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers (Limited Resource, Beginning,

Socially Disadvantaged, Veterans, and Tribal Nations and Members)

2) Research available vendor supplied designs (for example manufactured waste storage

tanks and manufactured precast concrete wall systems), provide peer review

evaluation and recommendations to NRCS for approval use Statewide for

conservation practice implementation. See National Engineering Model (NEM) 505.15

Standard Designs and Drawings.

3) Provide field technical support to NRCS engineering personnel to expedite and

improve technical work of the agency by sharing expertise and exchanging on-the-job

training. Federal and Non-Federal work force will work together to plan, design,

implement and evaluate conservation practices for shared program participants NEM

505.14. With NRCS direct oversight, work expected would be assisting with

implementation inventory/evaluation, prepare design report, preparing construction

drawings, contract specifications, operation and maintenance plans, engineer’s

estimate, prepare quality assurance plan, construction inspection, etc.

Page 6 of 28

4) Conduct Quality Assurance and Spot-checking services of work performed by

Technical Service Providers (TSP) over the last 5 years to support NEM 505.10(4)

responsibilities. Provide a report to NRCS on each TSP’s performance.

5) Prepare planning, or engineering technical materials for NRCS review, acceptance,

and release to serve as permanent references for providing technical assistance

across the range of agency programs. Implement and deliver technical materials for

general use by the public.

6) Provide high quality imagery and data to NRCS, using a licensed Unmanned Aircraft

System (UAS) operated by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified pilot to

inform Conservation Compliance activities, planning activities and/or

implementation activities remotely.

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

Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of

this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant applications will be eliminated from

competition and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant.