The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is offering Conservation Collaboration Cooperative Agreements in South Dakota.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is being released prior to appropriation and/or apportionment of funds for Fiscal Year 2024. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing potential availability of agreements in South Dakota for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources, addressing local natural resource issues, encouraging collaboration, and developing state- and community-level conservation leadership. Proposals will be accepted for projects located in South Dakota.

Proposals are requested from applicants who must be City or township governments; County governments; Independent school districts; Native American tribal government (Federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education); Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education); Private institutions of higher education; Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education; Special district governments; or State governments for competitive consideration of grant or agreement awards for projects between 1 and 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.

For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D.1. for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov.

Key Dates

Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 29, 2024. 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 May 29, 2024 and expects to execute awards by September 15, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.