USDA NRCS Grant: Conservation Planning & Technical Service Provider Training Development

US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is looking for a partner to develop multiple training courses for employees, partners, and technical service providers on topics associated with our conservation planning such as in the areas of economics, practice standards, conservation activities and others. The vision for these courses is that they would be online training developed in a format compatible with our AgLearn Learning Management System, would be 508 compliant, and include an exam to measure learner knowledge. NRCS will supply subject matter experts working with an interested Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network partner who will provide training development resources. Together we will create the elements related to course objectives, learning outcomes and course content. All courses developed will be the property of USDA, NRCS who will be provided the course in its final form along with all supporting materials including but not limited to files, documents, and videos in editable formats.

The development timeline of these trainings will be staggered within a three-year agreement following a priority list of training topics. These courses may be added to the list of required courses for our conservation planner and/or technical service provider program certification. Funding available would be through a contribution agreement and is only being offered to institutions of higher education associated with the CESU network. Information on the CESU network can be accessed at http://www.cesu.psu.edu/.

Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 11, 2022. 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.

The agency anticipates making selections by May 6, 2022 and expects to execute awards by June 17, 2022. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is looking for a partner to develop multiple training courses for employees, partners, and technical service providers on topics associated with our conservation planning such as in the areas of economics, practice standards, conservation activities and others. The vision for these courses is that they would be online training developed in a format compatible with our AgLearn Learning Management System, would be 508 compliant, and include an exam to measure learner knowledge. NRCS will supply subject matter experts working with an interested Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network partner who will provide training development resources. Together we will create the elements related to course objectives, learning outcomes and course content. All courses developed will be the property of USDA, NRCS who will be provided the course in its final form along with all supporting materials including but not limited to files, documents, and videos in editable formats.

The development timeline of these trainings will be staggered within a three-year agreement following a priority list of training topics. These courses may be added to the list of required courses for our conservation planner and/or technical service provider program certification. Funding available would be through a contribution agreement and is only being offered to institutions of higher education associated with the CESU network. Information on the CESU network can be accessed at http://www.cesu.psu.edu/.

Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 11, 2022. 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.

The agency anticipates making selections by May 6, 2022 and expects to execute awards by June 17, 2022. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.